Guidance Launched For Food Business Operators on EU Labeling Rules

13 Sep 2013 --- FoodDrinkEurope and EuroCommerce have launched an online Guidance brochure to help facilitate a common understanding between European retailers and manufacturers on the requirements of EU labelling rules which will enter into force later this year.

Developed largely with the aim of assisting small and medium-sized food business operators and interested national authorities, the document is dynamic, attractive, and easy-to-read. The document should help those operators to comply with the new EU Regulation when they implement its requirements in practice.

The Guidance includes a "Questions and Answers" section, comprising the text that was agreed by Member States and the European Commission in January 2013.

Speaking following the publication of the new online Guidance document, FoodDrinkEurope President, Jesús Serafín Pérez, commented: “This marks an important achievement between food manufacturers within FoodDrinkEurope and the retail community within EuroCommerce. We hope that this will add some clarity and uniformity for food business operators on the rather complex piece of new EU legislation in this field and hope that authorities at national and European level will recognise its value. We also welcome the support of our members in using the Guidance document; we trust that it will provide a valuable tool for them as they prepare to make the necessary changes to assure full EU legal compliance in the provision of food information to consumers”.

Speaking on the occasion of the publication of the document, EuroCommerce President, Dame Lucy Neville-Rolfe, said: “A uniform, EU-wide understanding about the requirements and responsibilities of food operators in relation to food labelling is paramount. The joint development of such guidance by FoodDrinkEurope and EuroCommerce is a prime example of manufacturers and retailers coming together in a constructive way to tackle a common issue. The importance and commonality of the Food Information Regulation allows us to have a stronger voice as we work as one to help companies understand and implement changes in EU legislation”.