The Food Information to ConsumersRegulation (FIC) (Regulation (EU) 1169/2011) came into force across the EU on13 December 2014. It applies not only to all foods within the supply chain, butalso to food business operators at all stages of the food chain from processorsto retailers and caterers.
The Regulationintroduced a requirement to provide a mandatory nutrition and allergenpackaging declaration label. This provision was subject to a two-yeartransitional period, during which time food business operators had the optionof providing this nutritional information on their products on a voluntarybasis. However, food products bearing nutrition and/or health claims or foodsto which vitamins and/or minerals have been added must have complied with theRegulation since 13 December 2014.
The transitionalperiod ended on 13 December 2016 and it is now mandatory for those foodbusiness operators that have not voluntarily provided this nutritionalinformation to comply with the Regulation. This means that, unless exempted,all prepacked food must be labelled with mandatory nutrition information, whichis to be set out in a prescribed format on product packaging. This includesinformation regarding:
- Energy values
- Nano-ingredients
- Refined oils/fats of vegetable or animal
- Carbohydrate
- Sugars
- Protein
- Salt (sodium)
- Certain vitamins and minerals
- Allergen information
The aim of thelegislation is to provide consumers with clear, factual and comparablenutrition information while streamlining labelling legislation across the EUMember States. Food business operators must not knowingly sell food that is notcompliant with this Regulation even if they are not responsible for thelabelling of the food (e.g. retailers). The legislation also broadens the roleof the European Commission and will assist consumers in making a more informedpurchasing food choice based on a product’s nutritional content.
Contributed byCliodhna McDonough
