Brussels, 29/09/2011 (Agence Europe) - Three years' discussion on the proposal for food labelling reform in the European Union have finally paid off with the adoption, on 29 September, of the regulation on consumer information relating to foodstuffs. The Council has formally endorsed the compromise reached in June this year (see EUROPE 10398) by Parliament, Council and Commission negotiators. The regulation on the legibility and reliability of information to consumers in order to give them the means, if they so wish, to make balanced and healthier dietary choices in full knowledge of the facts, has therefore been officially adopted. It will be published by the end of November and will take effect 20 days after publication in the EU Official Journal. The new provisions brought in by the regulation will apply three years after publication, except for the “mandatory nutrition declaration” that will apply five years at the latest after publication of the regulation.
Under the terms of the regulation, packaged food must in future be labelled with the energy value and the quantities of fat, saturates, carbohydrates, protein, sugars and salt. The energy value and the amounts of these nutrients make up the “mandatory nutrition declaration” and should in principle be expressed per 100g or per 100ml. However, they may also be indicated as a percentage of the daily recommended intake. Food business operators can use additional forms of expression or presentation as long as certain conditions are met (e.g. they do not mislead consumers and are supported by evidence of consumer understanding). All elements of the nutrition declaration should appear together in the same field of vision but some of them may be repeated on the front of the pack. The regulation also stipulates that labelling must be clear and legible with a minimum font size for mandatory information. The new piece of legislation also extends compulsory country of origin labelling to fresh pork, lamb and poultry meat. For now, there is exemption of application for alcoholic beverages (including “alcopops”) containing more than 1.2% by volume of alcohol, but the Commission is expected to determine within three years after entry into force of the new regulation whether alcoholic beverages should in future be covered. Non pre-packed food would also be exempted from nutrition labelling, unless member states decide otherwise. Allergens, however, must always be indicated. On pre-packed food, allergens must be included in the list of ingredients and highlighted with a typeset that clearly distinguishes them from the rest of the ingredients. Foodstuffs sold by private persons, for example at charity events or local community fairs, fall outside the scope of the new regulations. (AN/transl.jl)