Food Labelling in the EU

Food Labelling in the EU Prof J Ralph Blanchfield, MBE BSc, ARCS, MFC, FIFST & HonFIFST, HonFAIFST, CChem, FRSC, FRIPHH, FIAFoST, IFT Fellow Chair, External Affairs Institute of Food Science & Technology Vice President, European Food Law Association of the United Kingdom Food science, food technology and food law consultant E-mail: jralphb@easynet.co.uk Web: www.jralphb.co.uk

Food Labelling in the EU Prof J Ralph Blanchfield, MBE E-mail: jralphb@easynet.co.uk Web: www.jralphb.co.uk

Institute of Food Science & Technology The UK-based professional body of food scientists and technologists

Institute of Food Science & Technology professional members elected on academic qualifications and relevant experience, and signed undertaking to comply with the Institute's ethical Code of Professional Conduct;

Institute of Food Science & Technology Totally independent of government of industry of lobbying groups Not-for-profit Self-governing Self-funding

Institute of Food Science & Technology Collaborates in the public interest with government academia consumer bodies industry Retains complete independence

Institute of Food Science & TechnologyThe first of our four purposes is: To serve the public interest by furthering the application of science and technology to all aspects of the supply of safe, wholesome, nutritious and attractive food, nationally and internationally.

Institute of Food Science & TechnologyThe other three purposes are: (2) To advance the standing of food science and technology, both as a subject and as a profession; (3) To assist members in their career and personal development within the profession; (4) To uphold professional standards of competence and integrity

Food Labelling in the EU Competition for finite space by ever-increasing information requirement. Information needs to be: readable AND understandable

Food Labelling in the EU The Stakeholders – Legislators Consumers Manufacturers and retailers Regulatory agencies Analysts

Food Labelling in the EU Legislators– require mandatory information to inform consumers facilitate trade prevent fraud

Food Labelling in the EU Consumers – need information to – provide identity, quantity advice on safe storage and use enable informed choice

Food Labelling in the EU Manufacturers and retailers – need information to help differentiate / sell the product comply with legislation enable traceability of products

Food Labelling in the EU Retailers – additionally – provide space for the bar code for checkout scanning stock control via in-store database

Food Labelling in the EU Regulatory agencies and analysts – need data to enable checking that regulatory standards are fulfilled labelling regulations are complied with claims are fulfilled

Food Labelling in the EU Prof J Ralph Blanchfield, MBE Chair, External Affairs Institute of Food Science & Technology Vice President, European Food Law Association of the United Kingdom Food science, food technology and food law consultant E-mail: jralphb@easynet.co.uk Web: www.jralphb.co.uk Institute of Food Science & Technology -The UK-based professional body of food scientists and technologists. Totally independent of government, of industry, of lobbying groups. Not-for-profit. Self-governing. Self-funding. Collaborates in the public interest with government, academia, consumer bodies, industry . Retains complete independence. The first of our four purposes is: To serve the public interest by furthering the application of science and technology to all aspects of the supply of safe, wholesome, nutritious and attractive food, nationally and internationally. The other three purposes are: (2) To advance the standing of food science and technology, both as a subject and as a profession; (3) To assist members in their career and personal development within the profession; (4) To uphold professional standards of competence and integrity Food Labelling in the EU The Stakeholders – legislators, consumers, manufacturers and retailers, regulatory agencies, analysts. Legislators– require mandatory information to inform consumers, facilitate trade, prevent fraud. Consumers – information to – provide identity, quantity, advice on safe storage and use, enable informed choice. Manufacturers and retailers – information to help differentiate / sell the product, comply with legislation, enable traceability of products. Retailers – additionally – provide space for the bar code for checkout scanning and for stock control via in-store database. Regulatory agencies and analysts – data to enable checking that regulatory standards are fulfilled, labelling regulations are complied with, claims are fulfilled More information Competition for finite space

Food Labelling in the EU Prof J Ralph Blanchfield, MBE Chair, External Affairs Institute of Food Science & Technology Vice President, European Food Law Association of the United Kingdom Food science, food technology and food law consultant E-mail: jralphb@easynet.co.uk Web: www.jralphb.co.uk Institute of Food Science & Technology -The UK-based professional body of food scientists and technologists. Totally independent of government, of industry, of lobbying groups. Not-for-profit. Self-governing. Self-funding. Collaborates in the public interest with government, academia, consumer bodies, industry . Retains complete independence. The first of our four purposes is: To serve the public interest by furthering the application of science and technology to all aspects of the supply of safe, wholesome, nutritious and attractive food, nationally and internationally. The other three purposes are: (2) To advance the standing of food science and technology, both as a subject and as a profession; (3) To assist members in their career and personal development within the profession; (4) To uphold professional standards of competence and integrity Food Labelling in the EU The Stakeholders – legislators, consumers, manufacturers and retailers, regulatory agencies, analysts. Legislators – require mandatory information to inform consumers, facilitate trade, prevent fraud. Consumers – information to – provide identity, quantity, advice on safe storage and use, enable informed choice. Manufacturers and retailers – information to help differentiate / sell the product, comply with legislation, enable traceability of products. Retailers – additionally – provide space for the bar code for checkout scanning and for stock control via in-store database. Regulatory agencies and analysts – data to enable checking that regulatory standards are fulfilled, labelling regulations are complied with, claims are fulfilled More information Competition for finite space

Food Labelling in the EU More information Competition for finite space Would better label design help?

Food Labelling in the EU DIRECTIVE 2000/13/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs

Food Labelling in the EU COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2001/101/EC of 26 November 2001 regulating the definition of meat for labelling purpose, where meat is used as an ingredient in foodstuffs

Food Labelling in the EU COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 90/496/EC concerns nutrition labelling of foodstuffs to be delivered to the consumer (compulsory if a claim is made)

Food Labelling in the EU COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1825/2000 of 25 August 2000 Detailed rules for the labelling of beef and beef products

Food Labelling in the EU COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2002/67/EC of 18 July 2002 on the labelling of foodstuffs containing quinine, and of foodstuffs containing caffeine

Food Labelling in the EU EU LAWS AFFECTING LABELLING OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS since 1997 provide for consumers' right to information through distinctive labelling as a tool for making an informed choice.

Food Labelling in the EU REGULATION (EC) No 258/97 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 27 January 1997 concerning novel foods and novel food ingredients (Article 8 concerns labelling)

Food Labelling in the EU COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1139/98 of 26 May 1998 As amended by COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 49/2000 of 10 January 2000 concerning the compulsory indication of the labelling of soy and maize produced from genetically modified organisms

Food Labelling in the EU COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 50/2000 of 10 January 2000 on the labelling of foodstuffs and food ingredients containing additives and flavourings that have been genetically modified or have been produced from genetically modified organisms

Food Labelling in the EU COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 98/95/EEC concerns the labelling of genetically modified seed varieties

Food Labelling in the EU 27 July 2001: EU Commission Proposals for two Regulations of the European Parliament and of the Council: on genetically modified food and feed concerning traceability and labelling of GMOs and traceability of food and feed products produced from GMOs

Food Labelling in the EU EU Commission Proposals for two Regulations of the European Parliament and of the Council, on genetically modified food and feed : EU Parliament “first reading” Approval by Agricultural and Environmental Councils of Ministers EU Parliament “second reading” early 2003

Food Labelling in the EU Proposal for a DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 6 September 2001 amending Directive 2000/13/EC to provide complete listing of ingredients and indication of allergens present in foodstuffs

Food Labelling in the EU DIRECTIVE 98/6/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 16 February 1998 on consumer protection in the indication of the prices of products offered to consumers

Food Labelling in the EU The “percentage” problem QUID “x % fat-free” 25% rule “High”,”low”,“rich in”,“free from”

Food Labelling in the EU Salt vs sodium Nutrition claims Functional foods Health claims (two kinds)

Food Labelling in the EU Prof J Ralph Blanchfield, MBE Web: www.jralphb.co.uk

Food Labelling in the EU