The UK food industry prepares for new EU labelling rules
From the 13th December the new EU Food Industry labelling rules – Regulation 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers – come into force. Food businesses throughout the UK are gearing up for the implementation of the new regulations which require them to declare certain allergenic ingredients and state the date of first freezing on specific food items including many meat products.
Bizerba Labels & Food Industry Labelling
Frozen meat and products prepared from frozen meat must include information regarding the day, month and year that the food was first frozen. However the Meat Trades journal reported last week that many products are not currently including this information – according to a report by GS1 UK – despite the fact that producers only have a few more days to make the required changes.
The new EU regulation also states 14 different allergenic ingredients which must now be declared on the label – all food industry products include:
Cereals containing gluten.
Crustaceans (e.g. prawns, lobster, etc).
Fish.
Eggs and egg products.
Milk.
Nuts.
Sesame seeds.
Mustard.
Soya.
Lupin.
Molluscs (e.g. mussels, squid, clams etc).
Sulphur Dioxide and sulphites at concentrations of more than 10mg/kg or 10mg/L.
Declared on food labels – What ingredients
Any of these ingredients which are used in non-pre-packed or loose food industry goods, must be declared either on the label, or on information such as a menu if being served in a food service outlet, restaurant or delicatessen. In addition to this, catering facilities within schools, prisons and hospitals must also comply with the new regulations and display the relevant information with served food.
According to GS1 UK, the number of compliant businesses has increased since April from 25% to around 55% – but this means that when they last checked, some 45% had still not made the made the switch.
However, Chief executive of GS1 UK, Gary Lynch described their findings as promising:
“This series of reports has shown encouraging signs that the food industry is moving toward compliance. This is a costly and complex exercise for many. But food and drink businesses and operations have been taking it very seriously.”
From 1 April 2015, further legislation regarding mandatory origin labelling of unprocessed fresh, chilled or frozen meat. From pigs, sheep, goats and poultry, comes into effect.
Is your business ready for these important food industry changes? Bizerba are world leaders in food labels and machinery, software and label manufacture. Get in touch to see how we can help your business to become compliant. With the new food industry labelling and compliance regulations before it’s too late!
PDF Download Bizerba Labels & Consumables
