Providing food information for consumers
Following an EU-wide review of both general food and nutrition labelling legislation, the European Parliament approved the text for a new Food Information for Consumers Regulation (FIR) on 6 July 2011 and this was adopted by the Council of the European Union on 29 September 2011.
The new regulation brings EU rules on general and nutrition labelling together into a single regulation to simplify and consolidate existing labelling legislation and applies in all Member States, replacing current UK law after a three-year transitional period. The EU Food Information for Consumers Regulation has now been published in the Official Journal of the EU at the link below. Transitional arrangements mean that most requirements do not apply until 2014 and nutrition labelling will become mandatory in 2016.
Legislation to provide for the execution and enforcement of this regulation will be needed in each of the four countries of the UK, and the FSA will be working with Defra, the Department of Health and the Welsh Government on this.
Main points of the FIR
Key areas of the regulation include:
- Country of origin/Place of provenance: origin requirements have been tightened and also extended to fresh and frozen meat and will be subject to implementing rules to be proposed by the Commission. ‘Place of provenance’ has been retained and under this for example, Scotland or a recognised area may be used without reference to the UK. The Commission will also undertake reviews on widening the scope to include other foods, including meat and dairy products.
- Nutrition labelling: 'back of pack' information will become mandatory on the majority of prepacked foods, and it will be possible to voluntarily repeat on ‘front of pack’ information on nutrients of importance to public health. It will also be possible to provide voluntary nutrition information in the 'front of pack' format on food sold loose (eg on deli counters) and in catering establishments. In addition, there remains scope for businesses to use Guideline Daily Amounts (GDAs) based on reference intakes specified in the regulations and (subject to certain conditions) additional forms of expression and presentation.
- Alcoholic drinks will be exempted from mandatory nutrition labelling, but it will be possible for manufacturers to provide energy information on a voluntary basis.
- Date marking: depending on the type of food, consumers will continue to see 'best before' and 'use by' dates on pre-packed foods. The latter will be more tightly linked to food safety. Where appropriate i.e. for meat and fish, there will also be a date of first freezing shown on food labels.
- A minimum font size for the mandatory information on most food labels will aid clarity.
- Drinks with high caffeine content will have to be additionally labelled as not recommended for children or pregnant and breastfeeding women, with the actual caffeine content quoted.
- The types of vegetable oil used in food, such as palm oil, must be stated.
- Allergen information will be extended to loose foods and catering situations with flexibility in how businesses provide this to consumers.
- Added water in certain meat and fishery products will need to be shown in the name of the food if it makes up more than 5% of the final product.
UK responsibilities for FIR
Please be aware that the responsibility for the FIR varies across the UK. Following the Westminster Machinery of Government changes carried out in 2010, general food labelling policy responsibilities (where this is not related to food safety) in England have been transferred from FSA to Defra. Responsibility for nutrition labelling policy has been transferred to the Department of Health.
In England, the FSA leads on food safety aspects of food labelling and continues its liaison with food authorities in relation to food labelling law enforcement.
In Scotland and Northern Ireland, the FSA have retained responsibility for all aspects of general food labelling and nutrition labelling policy, including liaison with food authorities.
In Wales, the FSA continues to lead on general food labelling policy and food labelling law enforcement, although responsibility for nutrition labelling policy is now with the Welsh Government
Specific FSA contacts are as follows:
England: Food Standards enforcement
tel: 0207 276 8016 email: standards.support@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
Scotland: Food Labelling and Standards Team
tel: 01224 285155 email: scotland@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
Northern Ireland
tel: 02890 417742 email: Mervyn.Briggs@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
Wales
tel: 029 20678912 email: Kerys.James-Palmer@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
Food Standards Agency information available on other websites
External links The Food Standards Agency has no responsibility for the content of external websites
Find out more
FSA Wales Stakeholder event on Commission Proposal on Food Information: 2 April 2008
Meeting at the MRC Centre, Llandrindod Wells
Scottish stakeholder forum on providing food information to consumers: 12 March 2008
The Food Standards Agency in Scotland (FSAS) held a stakeholder forum in Edinburgh on the 12 March 2008. The forum provided an opportunity for the 21 attendees to receive information on the purpose and content of the Commission proposal, to facilitate open discussion and to provide their initial views.
Proposal for a new regulation on the provision of food information to consumers: note of consultation launch meeting
The Food Standards Agency hosted a meeting for stakeholders on 15 February 2008, to launch the Agency’s formal consultation on the Commission’s labelling proposal. This was an opportunity for about 100 stakeholders to receive information and give initial views.