EU Regulation 1169/2011 on Food Information for Consumers in Brief Overview

In response to different food scandals of younger history the EU issued the regulation 1169/2011 as a directive on the provision of food information to consumers.

This regulation states

• General goals, as in chapter II, article 3: “ The provision of food information shall pursue a high level of protection of consumers’ health and interests by providing a basis for final consumers to make informed choices and to make safe use of food, with particular regard to health, economic, environmental, social and ethical considerations.”.
• Basic requirements, as in chapter III, article 7: “(1) Food information shall not be misleading, … (2) Food information shall be accurate, clear and easy to understand for the consumer. …”.
• As well as responsibility for the supplied information.

         In addition the regulation contains a number of specific, detailed requirements on mandatory information, the presentation and placement on food packaging, guidelines for language used and labeling as like as lists of ingredients, additives, allergens which may cause intolerances or allergies etc.

List of mandatory particulars:

1. The name of the food;
2. The list of ingredients;
3. Any ingredient or processing aid listed in Annex II or derived from a substance or product listed in Annex II causing allergies or intolerances used in the manufacture or preparation of a food and still present in the finished product, even if in an altered form;
4. The quantity of certain ingredients or categories of ingredients;
5. The net quantity of the food;
6. The date of minimum durability or the ‘use by’ date;
7. Any special storage conditions and/or conditions of use;
8. The name or business name and address of the food business operator referred to in Article 8(1);
9. The country of origin or place of provenance where provided for in Article 26;
10. Instructions for use where it would be difficult to make appropriate use of the food in the absence of such instructions;
11. With respect to beverages containing more than 1,2 % by volume of alcohol, the actual alcoholic strength by volume;
12. A nutrition declaration (becoming mandatory on 13^th of December 2016).

This directive affects both manufacturers and retailers. It applies to food business operators at all stages of the food chain, where their activities concern the provision of food information to consumers. Stationary shops as like as online shops. 
It becomes effective 13^th of December 2014. Thus it is only 12 month time, to learn about the requirements and get the implementation done.

How GDSN may help with these requirements is part of upcoming blog articles.

Source: REGULATION (EU) No 1169/2011 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 25 October 2011