New EU law on food information to consumers

The new EU Regulation 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers considerably changes existing legislation on food labelling including:

• Nutrition information on processed foods;
• Origin labelling of fresh meat from pigs, sheep, goats and poultry;
• Highlighting allergens e.g. peanuts or milk in the list of ingredients;
• Better legibility i.e. minimum size of text;
• Requirements on information on allergens also cover non pre-packed foods including those sold in restaurants and cafés.

The new rules will apply from 13 December 2014. The obligation to provide nutrition information will apply from 13 December 2016.

The new law combines 2 Directives into one legislation:

• 2000/13/EC - labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs;
• 90/496/EEC - nutrition labelling for foodstuffs.

Adoption calendar

	22 November 2011	Regulation 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers published.
	27 July 2011	Commission Opinion on the European Parliament's position on the Council's common position.
	6 July 2011	European Parliament 2nd reading position on the proposed legislation, agreed with the Council. Commissioner Dalli's statement and Q&A on the food information Regulation.
	22 Feb. 2011	Commission Communication to the European Parliament on Council's common position
	21 Feb. 2011	Council's common position
	16 June 2010	European Parliament 1st reading position on the Commission proposal
	30 Jan. 2008	Commission proposal