Nutrition Declaration Now Mandatory Under Food Information to Consumers Regulation
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Requirement for food business operators to provide a mandatory nutrition declaration on their packaging now effective
The Food Information to Consumers
Regulation (FIC) (Regulation (EU) 1169/2011) came into force across the EU on
13 December 2014. It applies not only to all foods within the supply chain, but
also to food business operators at all stages of the food chain from processors
to retailers and caterers.
The Regulation
introduced a requirement to provide a mandatory nutrition and allergen
packaging declaration label. This provision was subject to a two-year
transitional period, during which time food business operators had the option
of providing this nutritional information on their products on a voluntary
basis. However, food products bearing nutrition and/or health claims or foods
to which vitamins and/or minerals have been added must have complied with the
Regulation since 13 December 2014.
The transitional
period ended on 13 December 2016 and it is now mandatory for those food
business operators that have not voluntarily provided this nutritional
information to comply with the Regulation. This means that, unless exempted,
all prepacked food must be labelled with mandatory nutrition information, which
is to be set out in a prescribed format on product packaging. This includes
information 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 the
legislation is to provide consumers with clear, factual and comparable
nutrition information while streamlining labelling legislation across the EU
Member States. Food business operators must not knowingly sell food that is not
compliant with this Regulation even if they are not responsible for the
labelling of the food (e.g. retailers). The legislation also broadens the role
of the European Commission and will assist consumers in making a more informed
purchasing food choice based on a product's nutritional content.
Contributed by
Cliodhna McDonough
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