Are you ready for the new EU food labelling guidelines?
The European Commission has accepted the five labelling recommendations from the European Court of Auditors’ Special Report. The recommendations will impact how Food Business Operators (FBOs) label and advertise products.
The audit assessed the EU legal framework for prepacked food, focusing on three key areas:
- How consumers interpret labels
- The control systems in place to ensure member state compliance
- How member states report on these checks
Key drivers for the audit included increasing consumer interest and rising awareness of the health implications of eating certain foods.
The five labelling recommendations put forward to the European Commission are:
1. Address gaps in the EU legal framework for food labelling
While the framework provides a basis for essential mandatory labelling requirements, the audit highlight gaps such as the lack of EU rules for vegan and vegetarian foods. Member states have created their own initiatives, causing disharmony across the EU. The recommendation is for the Commission to address pending actions in the Provision of Food Information to Consumers (FIC) and Claims regulations, and to work on issues related to origin labelling and alcoholic beverages.
2. Step up efforts to analyse labelling practices
Current EU guidelines do not prevent misleading practises, and neither the Commission nor member states have a comprehensive overview of the labels consumers see. The recommendation is for the Commission to regularly analyse the labelling that consumers are exposed to and improve guidance for food companies.
3. Monitor consumer expectations and take action to improve their understanding of food labelling
Consumers often do not understand the labels they see. The Commission and member states do not consistently monitor consumer understanding. It is therefore recommended that they systematically monitor consumer understanding of food labels and make necessary changes to make it clearer.
4. Strengthen member states’ checks on voluntary labels and online retail
While all 27 member states have control measures to ensure compliance with mandatory requirements, controls on voluntary information are often lacking. Consumers are unclear about what information is mandatory and checked, versus voluntary and often unchecked. Online retail checks are limited, especially for non-EU countries. The Commission should encourage member states to enhance checks on online retail and voluntary labels by providing examples of good practice.
5. Improve reporting on food labelling
The Commission has acknowledged inconsistencies in data provided by member states about food labelling. The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed online application is difficult for consumers to use. It is recommended that the Commission improves data consistency by streamlining member state reporting arrangements.
The European Commission has accepted these five labelling recommendations, with a target implementation date of 2027. It is crucial for FBOs to stay updated on these changes and prepare for potential label modifications.
How Leatherhead can help
For in-depth support on labelling regulations for the EU or other markets, contact us at [email protected]. Leatherhead’s experienced team of scientists and regulatory experts can support you every step of the way.
Leatherhead Food Research’s Members are kept up-to-date on changing regulations through the weekly Global Legal Highlights newsletter. To learn more, get in touch with our membership team at [email protected].
