EU Approves Food Labeling Rules

The European Parliament has reportedly approved new food labeling rules
aimed at helping consumers make “better informed, healthier choices.” As
outlined in a July 6, 2011, press release, the new regulations will require
labels “to spell out a food’s energy content as well as fat, saturated fat,
carbohydrate, sugar, protein and salt levels, in a way that makes them easy
for consumers to read.” To this end, such nutritional information must be
presented “in a legible tabular form on the packaging, together and in the
same field of vision,” and “expressed per 100g or per 100ml,” with the option of
expressing values per portion.

Slated to take effect three to five years after publication in the EU Official
Journal, the new rules also (i) tighten allergen labeling requirements for
both pre-packaged products and non-packaged foods sold in restaurants or
canteens; (ii) extend existing country-of-origin labeling laws to fresh meat
from pigs, sheep, goats, and poultry; and (iii) dictate that consumers cannot
be “misled by the appearance, description or pictorial presentation of food
packaging.” In addition, meat and fish consisting of combined meat parts or
fish parts must now be labeled “formed meat” or “formed fish,” accordingly.

“The new rules are supposed to provide more and better information to
consumers so they can make informed choices when buying. But [it] is more
than that: the food industry should benefit too. There should be more legal
certainty, less bureaucracy and better legislation in general,” Member of
European Parliament Renate Sommer (EPP, DE) said.