EU passes mandatory nutrition labeling law

Food companies have five years to implement the mandatory nutrition labeling rules of the European Union’s Food Information to Consumers Regulation published Nov. 22, 2011, said international policy experts EAS.

The regulation requires a mandatory declaration on the label of the “Big 7”—energy, fat, saturated fat, carbohydrates, sugars, protein, and salt—by Dec. 13, 2016. It also requires these to be expressed per 100 g/100 mL and, where appropriate, per portion. While most aspects of the regulation become applicable on Dec. 13, 2014, companies have been given an extended transition period until Dec. 13, 2016 to get in line with nutrition labeling requirements.

Other aspects of the regulation, with which companies must be compliant by the Dec. 13, 2014 deadline, include new rules on allergen labeling and legibility. The regulation introduces a minimum font size of 1.2 mm for all mandatory label information, and 0.9 mm for products whose packaging has a largest surface of less than 80 cm2.

Press release