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Directive 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council

of 20 March 2000

on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs (repealed)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 95 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal of the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee(1),

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty(2),

Whereas:

(1) Council Directive 79/112/EEC of 18 December 1978 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs(3) has been frequently and substantially amended(4). Therefore, for reasons of clarity and rationality, the said Directive should be consolidated in a single text.

(2) Differences between the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States on the labelling of foodstuffs may impede the free circulation of these products and can lead to unequal conditions of competition.

(3) Therefore, approximation of these laws would contribute to the smooth functioning of the internal market.

(4) The purpose of this Directive should be to enact Community rules of a general nature applicable horizontally to all foodstuffs put on the market.

(5) Rules of a specific nature which apply vertically only to particular foodstuffs should be laid down in provisions dealing with those products.

(6) The prime consideration for any rules on the labelling of foodstuffs should be the need to inform and protect the consumer.

(7) That need means that Member States may, in compliance with the rules of the Treaty, impose language requirements.

(8) Detailed labelling, in particular giving the exact nature and characteristics of the product which enables the consumer to make his choice in full knowledge of the facts, is the most appropriate since it creates fewest obstacles to free trade.

(9) Therefore, a list should be drawn up of all information which should in principle be included in the labelling of all foodstuffs.

(10) However, the horizontal nature of this Directive does not allow, at the initial stage, the inclusion in the compulsory indications of all the indications which must be added to the list applying in principle to the whole range of foodstuffs. During a later stage, Community provisions should be adopted, aimed at supplementing the existing rules.

(11) Furthermore, in the absence of Community rules of a specific nature Member States should retain the right to lay down certain national provisions which may be added to the general provisions of this Directive, nevertheless these provisions should be subject to a Community procedure.

(12) The said Community procedure must be that of a Community decision when a Member State wishes to enact new legislation.

(13) Provision should also be made for the Community legislator to derogate, in exceptional cases, from certain obligations that have been fixed generally.

(14) The rules on labelling should also prohibit the use of information that would mislead the purchaser or attribute medicinal properties to foodstuffs. To be effective, this prohibition should also apply to the presentation and advertising of foodstuffs.

(15) With a view to facilitating trade between Member States, it may be provided that, at stages prior to sale to the ultimate consumer, only information on the essential elements should appear on the outer packaging and certain mandatory particulars that must appear on a prepackaged foodstuff need appear only on commercial documents referring thereto.

(16) Member States should retain the right, depending on local practical conditions and circumstances, to lay down rules in respect of the labelling of foodstuffs sold in bulk; in such cases, information should nevertheless be provided for the consumer.

(17) With the aim of simplifying and accelerating the procedure, the Commission should be entrusted with the task of adopting implementing measures of a technical nature.

(18) The measures necessary for the implementing of this Directive should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission(5).

(19) This Directive should be without prejudice to the obligations of the Member States concerning the time limits for transposition of the Directives set out in Annex IV, Part B,

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

Article 1U.K.

1.This Directive concerns the labelling of foodstuffs to be delivered as such to the ultimate consumer and certain aspects relating to the presentation and advertising thereof.

2.This Directive shall apply also to foodstuffs intended for supply to restaurants, hospitals, canteens and other similar mass caterers (hereinafter referred to as ‘mass caterers’).

3.For the purpose of this Directive,

(a)‘labelling’ shall mean any words, particulars, trade marks, brand name, pictorial matter or symbol relating to a foodstuff and placed on any packaging, document, notice, label, ring or collar accompanying or referring to such foodstuff;

(b)‘pre-packaged foodstuff’ shall mean any single item for presentation as such to the ultimate consumer and to mass caterers, consisting of a foodstuff and the packaging into which it was put before being offered for sale, whether such packaging encloses the foodstuff completely or only partially, but in any case in such a way that the contents cannot be altered without opening or changing the packaging.

Article 2U.K.

1.The labelling and methods used must not:

(a)be such as could mislead the purchaser to a material degree, particularly:

(i)

as to the characteristics of the foodstuff and, in particular, as to its nature, identity, properties, composition, quantity, durability, origin or provenance, method of manufacture or production;

(ii)

by attributing to the foodstuff effects or properties which it does not possess;

(iii)

by suggesting that the foodstuff possesses special characteristics when in fact all similar foodstuffs possess such characteristics;

(b)subject to Community provisions applicable to natural mineral waters and foodstuffs for particular nutritional uses, attribute to any foodstuff the property of preventing, treating or curing a human disease, or refer to such properties.

2.The Council, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 95 of the Treaty, shall draw up a non-exhaustive list of the claims within the meaning of paragraph 1, the use of which must at all events be prohibited or restricted.

3.The prohibitions or restrictions referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall also apply to:

(a)the presentation of foodstuffs, in particular their shape, appearance or packaging, the packaging materials used, the way in which they are arranged and the setting in which they are displayed;

(b)advertising.

Article 3U.K.

1.In accordance with Articles 4 to 17 and subject to the exceptions contained therein, indication of the following particulars alone shall be compulsory on the labelling of foodstuffs:

(1)

the name under which the product is sold;

(2)

the list of ingredients;

(3)

the quantity of certain ingredients or categories of ingredients as provided for in Article 7;

(4)

in the case of prepackaged foodstuffs, the net quantity;

(5)

the date of minimum durability or, in the case of foodstuffs which, from the microbiological point of view, are highly perishable, the ‘use by’ date;

(6)

any special storage conditions or conditions of use;

(7)

the name or business name and address of the manufacturer or packager, or of a seller established within the Community.

However, the Member States shall be authorised, in respect of butter produced in their territory, to require only an indication of the manufacturer, packager or seller.

Without prejudice to the notification provided for in Article 24, Member States shall inform the Commission and the other Member States of any measure taken pursuant to the second paragraph;

(8)

particulars of the place of origin or provenance where failure to give such particulars might mislead the consumer to a material degree as to the true origin or provenance of the foodstuff;

(9)

instructions for use when it would be impossible to make appropriate use of the foodstuff in the absence of such instructions;

(10)

with respect to beverages containing more than 1,2 % by volume of alcohol, the actual alcoholic strength by volume.

2.Notwithstanding the previous paragraph, Member States may retain national provisions which require indication of the factory or packaging centre, in respect of home production.

3.The provisions of this Article shall be without prejudice to more precise or more extensive provisions regarding weights and measures.

Article 4U.K.

1.Community provisions applicable to specified foodstuffs and not to foodstuffs in general may provide for derogations, in exceptional cases, from the requirements laid down in Article 3(1), points 2 and 5, provided that this does not result in the purchaser being inadequately informed.

2.Community provisions applicable to specified foodstuffs and not to foodstuffs in general may provide that other particulars in addition to those listed in Article 3 must appear on the labelling.

Where there are no Community provisions, Member States may make provision for such particulars in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 19.

3.The Community provisions referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 20(2).

Article 5U.K.

1.The name under which a foodstuff is sold shall be the name provided for in the Community provisions applicable to it.

(a)In the absence of Community provisions, the name under which a product is sold shall be the name provided for in the laws, regulations and administrative provisions applicable in the Member State in which the product is sold to the final consumer or to mass caterers.

Failing this, the name under which a product is sold shall be the name customary in the Member State in which it is sold to the final consumer or to mass caterers, or a description of the foodstuff, and if necessary of its use, which is clear enough to let the purchaser know its true nature and distinguish it from other products with which it might be confused.

(b)The use in the Member State of marketing of the sales name under which the product is legally manufactured and marketed in the Member State of production shall also be allowed.

However, where the application of the other provisions of this Directive, in particular those set out in Article 3, would not enable consumers in the Member State of marketing to know the true nature of the foodstuff and to distinguish it from foodstuffs with which they could confuse it, the sales name shall be accompanied by other descriptive information which shall appear in proximity to the sales name.

(c)In exceptional cases, the sales name of the Member State of production shall not be used in the Member State of marketing when the foodstuff which it designates is so different, as regards its composition or manufacture, from the foodstuff known under that name that the provisions of point (b) are not sufficient to ensure, in the Member State of marketing, correct information for consumers.

2.No trade mark, brand name or fancy name may be substituted for the name under which the product is sold.

3.The name under which the product is sold shall include or be accompanied by particulars as to the physical condition of the foodstuff or the specific treatment which it has undergone (e.g. powdered, freeze-dried, deep-frozen, concentrated, smoked) in all cases where omission of such information could create confusion in the mind of the purchaser.

Any foodstuff which has been treated with ionising radiation must bear one of the following indications:

Article 6U.K.

[F21. Ingredients shall be listed in accordance with this Article and Annexes I, II, III and IIIa.]

2.Ingredients need not be listed in the case of:

provided that no ingredient has been added other than lactic products, enzymes and micro-organism cultures essential to manufacture, or the salt needed for the manufacture of cheese other than fresh cheese and processed cheese;

(c)products comprising a single ingredient, where:

3.In the case of beverages containing more than 1,2 % by volume of alcohol, the Council, acting on a proposal from the Commission, shall, before 22 December 1982, determine the rules for labelling ingredients.

[F33a. Without prejudice to the rules for labelling to be established pursuant to paragraph 3, any ingredient, as defined in paragraph 4(a) and listed in Annex IIIa, shall be indicated on the labelling where it is present in beverages referred to in paragraph 3. This indication shall comprise the word contains followed by the name of the ingredient(s) concerned. However, an indication is not necessary when the ingredient is already included under its specific name in the list of ingredients or in the name under which the beverage is sold.

Where necessary, detailed rules for the presentation of the indication referred to in the first subparagraph may be adopted in accordance with the following procedures:

(a) as regards the products referred to in Article 1(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/99 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in wine (6) , under the procedure laid down in Article 75 of that Regulation;

(b) as regards the products referred to in Article 2(1) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1601/91 of 10 June 1991 laying down general rules on the definition, description and presentation of aromatised wines, aromatised wine-based drinks and aromatised wine-product cocktails (7) , under the procedure laid down in Article 13 of that Regulation;

(c) as regards the products referred to in Article 1(2) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89 of 29 May 1989 laying down general rules on the definition, description and presentation of spirit drinks (8) , under the procedure laid down in Article 14 of that Regulation;

(d) as regards other products, under the procedure laid down in Article 20(2) of this Directive.]

4. [F4(a) Ingredient shall mean any substance, including additives and enzymes, used in the manufacture or preparation of a foodstuff and still present in the finished product, even if in altered form.]

(b)Where an ingredient of the foodstuff is itself the product of several ingredients, the latter shall be regarded as ingredients of the foodstuff in question.

(c)The following shall not be regarded as ingredients:

(i)

the constituents of an ingredient which have been temporarily separated during the manufacturing process and later reintroduced but not in excess of their original proportions;

(ii)

[F4additives and enzymes]:

  • whose presence in a given foodstuff is solely due to the fact that they were contained in one or more ingredients of that foodstuff, provided that they serve no technological function in the finished product,

  • which are used as processing aids;

(iii)

substances used in the quantities strictly necessary as solvents or media for [F4additives or enzymes or flavourings] [F2;]

(iv)

[F3substances which are not additives but are used in the same way and with the same purpose as processing aids and are still present in the finished product, even if in altered form.]

(d)In certain cases Decisions may be taken in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 20(2) as to whether the conditions described in point (c)(ii) and (iii) are satisfied.

5.The list of ingredients shall include all the ingredients of the foodstuff, in descending order of weight, as recorded at the time of their use in the manufacture of the foodstuff. It shall appear preceded by a suitable heading which includes the word ‘ingredients’.

However:

6.Ingredients shall be designated by their specific name, where applicable, in accordance with the rules laid down in Article 5.

However:

7.Community provisions or, where there are none, national provisions may lay down that the name under which a specific foodstuff is sold is to be accompanied by mention of a particular ingredient or ingredients.

The procedure laid down in Article 19 shall apply to any such national provisions.

The Community provisions referred to in this paragraph shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 20(2).

8.In the case referred to in paragraph 4(b), a compound ingredient may be included in the list of ingredients, under its own designation in so far as this is laid down by law or established by custom, in terms of its overall weight, provided that it is immediately followed by a list of its ingredients.

[F2The list referred to in the first subparagraph shall not be compulsory:

(a) where the composition of the compound ingredient is defined in current Community legislation, and in so far as the compound ingredient constitutes less than 2 % of the finished product; however, this provision shall not apply to additives, subject to paragraph 4(c),

(b) for compound ingredients consisting of mixtures of spices and/or herbs that constitute less than 2 % of the finished product, with the exception of additives, subject to paragraph 4(c),

(c) where the compound ingredient is a foodstuff for which a list of ingredients is not required under Community legislation.]

9.Notwithstanding paragraph 5 the water content need not be specified:

(a)where the water is used during the manufacturing process solely for the reconstitution of an ingredient used in concentrated or dehydrated form;

(b)in the case of a liquid medium which is not normally consumed.

[F310. Notwithstanding paragraph 2, the second subparagraph of paragraph 6 and the second subparagraph of paragraph 8, any ingredient used in production of a foodstuff and still present in the finished product, even if in altered form, and listed in Annex IIIa or originating from an ingredient listed in Annex IIIa shall be indicated on the label with a clear reference to the name of this ingredient.

The indication referred to in the first subparagraph shall not be required if the name under which the foodstuff is sold clearly refers to the ingredient concerned.

Notwithstanding paragraph 4(c)(ii), (iii) and (iv), any substance used in production of a foodstuff and still present in the finished product, even if in altered form, and originating from ingredients listed in Annex IIIa shall be considered as an ingredient and shall be indicated on the label with a clear reference to the name of the ingredient from which it originates.

11. The list in Annex IIIa shall be systematically re-examined and, where necessary, updated on the basis of the most recent scientific knowledge. The first re-examination shall take place at the latest on 25 November 2005.

Updating could also be effected by the deletion from Annex IIIa of ingredients for which it has been scientifically established that it is not possible for them to cause adverse reactions. To this end, the Commission may be notified until 25 August 2004 of the studies currently being conducted to establish whether ingredients or substances, derived from ingredients listed in Annex IIIa are not likely, under specific circumstances, to trigger adverse reactions. The Commission shall, not later than 25 November 2004, after consultation with the European Food Safety Authority, adopt a list of those ingredients or substances, which shall consequently be excluded from Annex IIIa, pending the final results of the notified studies, or at the latest until 25 November 2007.

Without prejudice to the second subparagraph, Annex IIIa may be amended, in compliance with the procedure referred to in Article 20(2), after an opinion has been obtained from the European Food Safety Authority issued on the basis of Article 29 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2002, laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety (9) .

Where necessary, technical guidelines may be issued for the interpretation of the list in Annex IIIa, in compliance with the procedure referred to in Article 20(2).]

Article 7U.K.

1.The quantity of an ingredient or category of ingredients used in the manufacture or preparation of a foodstuff shall be stated in accordance with this Article.

2.The indication referred to in paragraph 1 shall be compulsory:

(a)where the ingredient or category of ingredients concerned appears in the name under which the foodstuff is sold or is usually associated with that name by the consumer; or

(b)where the ingredient or category of ingredients concerned is emphasised on the labelling in words, pictures or graphics; or

(c)where the ingredient or category of ingredients concerned is essential to characterise a foodstuff and to distinguish it from products with which it might be confused because of its name or appearance; or

(d)in the cases determined in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 20(2).

3.Paragraph 2 shall not apply:

(a)to an ingredient or category of ingredients:

(b)where specific Community provisions stipulate precisely the quantity of an ingredient or of a category of ingredients without providing for the indication thereof on the labelling;

(c)in the cases referred to in the fourth and fifth indents of Article 6(5);

(d)in the cases determined in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 20(2).

4.The quantity indicated, expressed as a percentage, shall correspond to the quantity of the ingredient or ingredients at the time of its/their use. However, Community provisions may allow for derogations from this principle for certain foodstuffs. Such provisions shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 20(2).

5.The indication referred to in paragraph 1 shall appear either in or immediately next to the name under which the foodstuff is sold or in the list of ingredients in connection with the ingredient or category of ingredients in question.

6.This Article shall apply without prejudice to Community rules on nutrition labelling for foodstuffs.

Article 8U.K.

1.The net quantity of prepackaged foodstuffs shall be expressed:

using the litre, centilitre, millilitre, kilogram or gram, as appropriate.

Community provisions or, where there are none, national provisions applicable to certain specified foodstuffs may derogate from this rule.

The procedure laid down in Article 19 shall apply to any such national provisions.

2.(a)Where the indication of a certain type of quantity (e.g. nominal quantity, minimum quantity, average quantity) is required by Community provisions or, where there are none, by national provisions, this quantity shall be regarded as the net quantity for the purposes of this Directive.

Without prejudice to the notification provided for in Article 24, Member States shall inform the Commission and the other Member States of any measure taken pursuant to this point.

(b)Community provisions or, where there are none, national provisions may, for certain specified foodstuffs classified by quantity in categories, require other indications of quantity.

The procedure laid down in Article 19 shall apply to any such national provisions.

(c)Where a prepackaged item consists of two or more individual prepackaged items containing the same quantity of the same product, the net quantity shall be indicated by mentioning the net quantity contained in each individual package and the total number of such packages. Indication of these particulars shall not, however, be compulsory where the total number of individual packages can be clearly seen and easily counted from the outside and where at least one indication of the net quantity contained in each individual package can be clearly seen from the outside.

(d)Where a prepackaged item consists of two or more individual packages which are not regarded as units of sale, the net quantity shall be given by indicating the total net quantity and the total number of individual packages. Community provisions or, where there are none, national provisions need not, in the case of certain foodstuffs, require indication of the total number of individual packages.

Without prejudice to the notification provided for in Article 24, Member States shall inform the Commission and the other Member States of any measure taken pursuant to this point.

3.In the case of foodstuffs normally sold by number, Member States need not require indication of the net quantity provided that the number of items can clearly be seen and easily counted from the outside or, if not, is indicated on the labelling.

Without prejudice to the notification provided for in Article 24, Member States shall inform the Commission and the other Member States of any measure taken pursuant to this paragraph.

4.Where a solid foodstuff is presented in a liquid medium, the drained net weight of the foodstuff shall also be indicated on the labelling.

For the purposes of this paragraph, ‘liquid medium’ shall mean the following products, possibly in mixtures and also where frozen or quick-frozen, provided that the liquid is merely an adjunct to the essential elements of that preparation and is thus not a decisive factor for the purchase: water, aqueous solutions of salts, brine, aqueous solutions of food acids, vinegar, aqueous solutions of sugars, aqueous solutions of other sweetening substances, fruit or vegetable juices in the case of fruit or vegetables.

This list may be supplemented in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 20(2).

Methods of checking the drained net weight shall be determined in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 20(2).

5.It shall not be compulsory to indicate the net quantity in the case of foodstuffs:

(a)which are subject to considerable losses in their volume or mass and which are sold by number or weighed in the presence of the purchaser;

(b)the net quantity of which is less than 5 g or 5 ml; however, this provision shall not apply to spices and herbs.

Community provisions or, where there are none, national provisions applicable to specified foodstuffs may in exceptional cases lay down thresholds which are higher than 5 g or 5 ml provided that this does not result in the purchaser being inadequately informed.

Without prejudice to the notification provided for in Article 24, Member States shall inform the Commission and the other Member States of any measure taken pursuant to this paragraph.

6.The Community provisions referred to in paragraphs 1, second subparagraph, 2(b) and (d) and 5, second subparagraph, shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 20(2).

Article 9U.K.

1.The date of minimum durability of a foodstuff shall be the date until which the foodstuff retains its specific properties when properly stored.

It shall be indicated in accordance with paragraphs 2 to 5.

2.The date shall be preceded by the words:

3.The words referred to in paragraph 2 shall be accompanied by:

If need be, these particulars shall be followed by a description of the storage conditions which must be observed if the product is to keep for the specified period.

4.The date shall consist of the day, month and year in uncoded chronological form.

However, in the case of foodstuffs:

The manner of indicating the date may be specified according to the procedure laid down in Article 20(2).

5.Subject to Community provisions imposing other types of date indication, an indication of the durability date shall not be required for:

Article 10U.K.

1.In the case of foodstuffs which, from the microbiological point of view, are highly perishable and are therefore likely after a short period to constitute an immediate danger to human health, the date of minimum durability shall be replaced by the ‘use by’ date.

2.The date shall be preceded by the words:

These words shall be accompanied by:

These particulars shall be followed by a description of the storage conditions which must be observed.

3.The date shall consist of the day, the month and, possibly, the year, in that order and in uncoded form.

4.In some cases it may be decided by the procedure laid down in Article 20(2) whether the conditions laid down in paragraph 1 are fulfilled.

Article 11U.K.

1.The instructions for use of a foodstuff shall be indicated in such a way as to enable appropriate use to be made thereof.

2.Community provisions or, where there are none, national provisions may, in the case of certain foodstuffs, specify the way in which the instructions for use should be indicated.

The procedure laid down in Article 19 shall apply to such national provisions.

The Community provisions referred to in this paragraph shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 20(2).

Article 12U.K.

The rules concerning indication of the alcoholic strength by volume shall, in the case of products covered by tariff heading Nos 22.04 and 22.05, be those laid down in the specific Community provisions applicable to such products.

In the case of other beverages containing more than 1,2 % by volume of alcohol, these rules shall be laid down in accordance with the procedure provided for in Article 20(2).

Article 13U.K.

1.(a)When the foodstuffs are prepackaged, the particulars provided for in Articles 3 and 4(2) shall appear on the prepackaging or on a label attached thereto.

(b)Notwithstanding point (a) and without prejudice to Community provisions on nominal quantities, where prepackaged foodstuffs are:

the particulars required under Articles 3 and 4(2) need appear only on the commercial documents referring to the foodstuffs where it can be guaranteed that such documents, containing all the labelling information, either accompany the foodstuffs to which they refer or were sent before or at the same time as delivery.

(c)In the case referred to in point (b), the particulars referred to in Article 3(1) point 1, 5 and 7 and, where appropriate, that referred to in Article 10, shall also appear on the external packaging in which the foodstuffs are presented for marketing.

2.The particulars mentioned in Article 3 and Article 4(2) shall be easy to understand and marked in a conspicuous place in such a way as to be easily visible, clearly legible and indelible.

They shall not in any way be hidden, obscured or interrupted by other written or pictorial matter.

3.The particulars listed in Article 3(1), points 1, 4, 5 and 10 shall appear in the same field of vision.

This requirement may be extended to the particulars provided for in Article 4(2).

4.In the case of the glass bottles intended for reuse which are indelibly marked and which therefore bear no label, ring or collar and packaging or containers the largest surface of which has an area of less than 10 cm2 only the particulars listed in Article 3(1) points 1, 4 and 5 need be given.

In this case, paragraph 3 shall not apply.

5.Ireland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom may derogate from Article 3(1) and paragraph 3 of this Article in the case of milk and milk products put up in glass bottles intended for reuse.

They shall inform the Commission of any measure taken pursuant to the first subparagraph.

Article 14U.K.

Where foodstuffs are offered for sale to the ultimate consumer or to mass caterers without prepackaging, or where foodstuffs are packaged on the sales premises at the consumer's request or prepackaged for direct sale, the Member States shall adopt detailed rules concerning the manner in which the particulars specified in Article 3 and Article 4(2) are to be shown.

They may decide not to require the provision of all or some of these particulars, provided that the purchaser still receives sufficient information.

Article 15U.K.

This Directive shall not affect the provisions of national laws which, in the absence of Community provisions, impose less stringent requirements for the labelling of foodstuffs presented in fancy packaging such as figurines or souvenirs.

Article 16U.K.

1.Member States shall ensure that the sale is prohibited within their own territories of foodstuffs for which the particulars provided for in Article 3 and Article 4(2) do not appear in a language easily understood by the consumer, unless the consumer is in fact informed by means of other measures determined in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 20(2) as regards one or more labelling particulars.

2.Within its own territory, the Member State in which the product is marketed may, in accordance with the rules of the Treaty, stipulate that those labelling particulars shall be given in one or more languages which it shall determine from among the official languages of the Community.

3.Paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not preclude the labelling particulars from being indicated in several languages.

Article 17U.K.

Member States shall refrain from laying down requirements more detailed than those already contained in Articles 3 to 13 concerning the manner in which the particulars provided for in Article 3 and Article 4(2) are to be shown.

Article 18U.K.

1.Member States may not forbid trade in foodstuffs which comply with the rules laid down in this Directive by the application of non-harmonised national provisions governing the labelling and presentation of certain foodstuffs or of foodstuffs in general.

2.Paragraph 1 shall not apply to non-harmonised national provisions justified on grounds of:

Article 19U.K.

Where reference is made to this Article, the following procedure shall apply should a Member State deem it necessary to adopt new legislation.

It shall notify the Commission and the other Member States of the measures envisaged and give the reasons justifying them. The Commission shall consult the Member States within the [F2Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health set up by Regulation (EC) No 178/2002] if it considers such consultation to be useful or if a Member State so requests.

Member States may take such envisaged measures only three months after such notification and provided that the Commission's opinion is not negative.

In the latter event, and before the expiry of the abovementioned period, the Commission shall initiate the procedure provided for in Article 20(2) in order to determine whether the envisaged measures may be implemented subject, if necessary, to the appropriate modifications.

Article 20U.K.

1.The Commission shall be assisted by the [F2Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health] (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Committee’).

2.Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 5 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof.

The period referred to in Article 5(6) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at three months.

3.The Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure.

Article 21U.K.

If temporary measures prove necessary to facilitate the application of this Directive, they shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure provided for in Article 20(2).

Article 22U.K.

This Directive shall not affect Community provisions relating to the labelling and presentation of certain foodstuffs already adopted on 22 December 1978.

Any amendments necessary to harmonise such provisions with the rules laid down in this Directive shall be decided in accordance with the procedure applicable to each of the provisions in question.

Article 23U.K.

This Directive shall not apply to products for export outside the Community.

Article 24U.K.

Member States shall ensure that the Commission receives the text of any essential provision of national law which they adopt in the field governed by this Directive.

Article 25U.K.

This Directive shall also apply to the French overseas departments.

Article 26U.K.

1.Directive 79/112/EEC as amended by the Directives referred to in Annex IV, Part A, is repealed, without prejudice to the obligations of the Member States in respect of the deadlines for transposition laid down in Annex IV, Part B.

2.The reference made to the repealed Directive shall be construed as references to this Directive and should be read in accordance with the correlation table set out in Annex V.

Article 27U.K.

This Directive enters into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

Article 28U.K.

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

ANNEX IU.K.

CATEGORIES OF INGREDIENTS WHICH MAY BE DESIGNATED BY THE NAME OF THE CATEGORY RATHER THAN THE SPECIFIC NAME

b

[F6For labelling in English, this designation may be replaced by the generic name of the ingredient for the animal species concerned.

c

The diaphragm and the masseters are part of the skeletal muscles, while the heart, tongue, the muscles of the head (other than the masseters), the muscles of the carpus, the tarsus and the tail are excluded.]

DefinitionDesignation
Refined oils other than olive oil

‘Oil’, together with

  • either the adjective ‘vegetable’ or ‘animal’, as appropriate, or

  • an indication of their specific vegetable or animal origin

The adjective ‘hydrogenated’ must accompany the indication of a hydrogenated oil

Refined fats

‘Fat’, together with

  • either the adjective ‘vegetable’ or ‘animal’, as appropriate, or

  • an indication of their specific vegetable or animal origin

The adjective ‘hydrogenated’ must accompany the indication of a hydrogenated fat

Mixtures of flour obtained from two or more cereal species‘Flour’, followed by a list of the cereals from which it has been obtained, in descending order by weight
Starches, and starches modified by physical means or by enzymes‘Starch’
All species of fish where the fish constitutes an ingredient of another foodstuff and provided that the name and presentation of such foodstuff does not refer to a specific species of fish‘Fish’
All types of cheese where the cheese or mixture of cheeses constitutes an ingredient of another foodstuff and provided that the name and presentation of such foodstuff does not refer to a specific type of cheese‘Cheese’
All spices not exceeding 2 % by weight of the foodstuff‘Spice(s)’ or ‘mixed spices’
All herbs or parts of herbs not exceeding 2 % by weight of the foodstuff‘Herb(s)’ or ‘mixed herbs’
All types of gum preparations used in the manufacture of gum base for chewing gum‘Gum base’
All types of crumbed baked cereal products‘Crumbs’ or ‘rusks’ as appropriate
All types of sucrose‘Sugar’
Anhydrous dextrose or dextrose monohydrate‘Dextrose’
Glucose syrup and anhydrous glucose syrup‘Glucose syrup’
All types of milk protein (caseins, caseinates and whey proteins) and mixtures thereof‘Milk proteins’
Press, expeller or refined cocoa butter‘Cocoa butter’
[ F7 ]
[ F7 ]
All types of wine as defined in Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in winea‘Wine’

[F6Skeletal muscles c of mammalian and bird species recognised as fit for human consumption with naturally included or adherent tissue, where the total fat and connective tissue content does not exceed the values indicated below and where the meat constitutes an ingredient of another foodstuff. The products covered by the Community definiton of mechanically recovered meat are excluded from this definition.

Maximum fat and connective tissue contents for ingredients designated by the term

… meat .

a

The connective tissue content is calculated on the basis of the ratio between collagen content and meat protein content. The collagen content means the hydroxyproline content multiplied by a factor of 8.

Species Fat (%) Connective tissue a (%)
Mammals (other than rabbits and porcines) and mixtures of species with mammals predominating 25 25
Porcines 30 25
Birds and rabbits 15 10

If these maximum limits are exceeded, but all other criteria for the definition of meat are satisfied, the … meat content must be adjusted downwards accordingly and the list of ingredients must mention, in addition to the term … meat , the presence of fat and/or connective tissue.

… meat and the name(s) b of the animal species from which it comes. ]

ANNEX IIU.K.CATEGORIES OF INGREDIENTS WHICH MUST BE DESIGNATED BY THE NAME OF THEIR CATEGORY FOLLOWED BY THEIR SPECIFIC NAME OR EC NUMBER

[X1ANNEX III U.K. Designation of flavourings in the list of ingredients

1. Flavourings shall be designated either by the word flavouring(s) or by a more specific name or description of the flavouring. U.K.

2. The word natural or any other word having substantially the same meaning may be used only for flavourings in which the flavouring component contains exclusively flavouring substances as defined in Article 1(2)(b)(i) of Council Directive 88/388/EEC of 22 June 1988 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to flavourings for use in foodstuffs and to source materials for their production (12) and/or flavouring preparations as defined in Article 1(2)(c) of the said Directive. U.K.

3. If the name of the flavouring contains a reference to the vegetable or animal nature or origin of the incorporated substances, the word natural or any other word having substantially the same meaning may not be used unless the flavouring component has been isolated by appropriate physical processes, enzymatic or microbiological processes or traditional food-preparation processes solely or almost solely from the foodstuff or the flavouring source concerned.] U.K.

[F8ANNEX IIIa U.K. Ingredients referred to in Article 6(3a), (10) and (11)

1. Cereals containing gluten (i.e. wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt, kamut or their hybridised strains) and products thereof, except: U.K.

(a)

wheat-based glucose syrups including dextrose (13) ;

(b)

wheat-based maltodextrins (13) ;

(c)

glucose syrups based on barley;

(d)

cereals used for making distillates or ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin for spirit drinks and other alcoholic beverages.

2. Crustaceans and products thereof. U.K.

3. Eggs and products thereof. U.K.

4. Fish and products thereof, except: U.K.

(a)

fish gelatine used as carrier for vitamin or carotenoid preparations;

(b)

fish gelatine or Isinglass used as fining agent in beer and wine.

5. Peanuts and products thereof. U.K.

6. Soybeans and products thereof, except: U.K.

(a)

fully refined soybean oil and fat (13) ;

(b)

natural mixed tocopherols (E306), natural D-alpha tocopherol, natural D-alpha tocopherol acetate, natural D-alpha tocopherol succinate from soybean sources;

(c)

vegetable oils derived phytosterols and phytosterol esters from soybean sources;

(d)

plant stanol ester produced from vegetable oil sterols from soybean sources.

7. Milk and products thereof (including lactose), except: U.K.

(a)

whey used for making distillates or ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin for spirit drinks and other alcoholic beverages;

(b)

lactitol.

8. Nuts, i.e. almonds ( Amygdalus communis L .), hazelnuts ( Corylus avellana ), walnuts ( Juglans regia ), cashews ( Anacardium occidentale ), pecan nuts ( Carya illinoiesis (Wangenh.) K. Koch ), Brazil nuts ( Bertholletia excelsa ), pistachio nuts ( Pistacia vera ), macadamia nuts and Queensland nuts ( Macadamia ternifolia ), and products thereof, except: U.K.

(a)

nuts used for making distillates or ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin for spirit drinks and other alcoholic beverages.

9. Celery and products thereof. U.K.

10. Mustard and products thereof. U.K.

11. Sesame seeds and products thereof. U.K.

12. Sulphur dioxide and sulphites at concentrations of more than 10 mg/kg or 10 mg/litre expressed as SO 2 . U.K.

13. Lupin and products thereof. U.K.

14. Molluscs and products thereof.] U.K.

ANNEX IVU.K.

PART AU.K.REPEALED DIRECTIVE AND ITS SUCCESSIVE AMENDMENTS(referred to by Article 26)

Council Directive 79/112/EEC (OJ L 33, 8.2.1979, p. 1)

PART BU.K.DEADLINES FOR TRANSPOSITION INTO NATIONAL LAW(referred to by Article 26)

DirectiveDeadline for transpositionAdmission of market products according to this DirectiveProhibition of market products not in accordance with this Directive
79/112/EEC22 December 198022 December 1982
85/7/EEC
86/197/EEC1 May 19881 May 1989
89/395/EEC20 December 199020 June 1992
91/72/EEC30 June 19921 January 1994
93/102/EC30 December 19941 January 199530 June 1996
95/42/EC
97/4/EC14 August 199814 February 2000

ANNEX VU.K.

CORRELATION TABLE

Directive 79/112/EECThis Directive
Article 1Article 1
Article 2Article 2
Article 3(1), point 1Article 3(1), point 1
Article 3(1), point 2Article 3(1), point 2
Article 3(1), point 2aArticle 3(1), point 3
Article 3(1), point 3Article 3(1), point 4
Article 3(1), point 4Article 3(1), point 5
Article 3(1), point 5Article 3(1), point 6
Article 3(1), point 6Article 3(1), point 7
Article 3(1), point 7Article 3(1), point 8
Article 3(1), point 8Article 3(1), point 9
Article 3(1), point 9Article 3(1), point 10
Article 3(2) and (3)Article 3(2) and (3)
Article 4Article 4
Article 5Article 5
Article 6(1), (2) and (3)Article 6(1), (2) and (3)
Article 6(4)(a) and (b)Article 6(4)(a) and (b)
Article 6(4)(c)(i)Article 6(4)(c)(i)
Article 6(4)(c)(ii), first indentArticle 6(4)(c)(ii)
Article 6(4)(c)(ii), second indentArticle 6(4)(c)(iii)
Article 6(4)(d)Article 6(4)(d)
Article 6(5)(a)Article 6(5)
Article 6(5)(b)Article 6(6)
Article 6(6)Article 6(7)
Article 6(7), first subparagraphArticle 6(8), first subparagraph
Article 6(7), second subparagraph, first and second indentsArticle 6(8), second subparagraph, points (a) and (b)
Article 6(8)Article 6(9)
Article 7Article 7
Article 8(1) to (5)Article 8(1) to (5)
Article 8(6)
Article 8(7)Article 8(6)
Article 9(1) to (4)Article 9(1) to (4)
Article 9(5)
Article 9(6)Article 9(5)
Article 9aArticle 10
Article 10Article 11
Article 10aArticle 12
Article 11(1) and (2)Article 13(1) and (2)
Article 11(3)(a)Article 13(3)
Article 11(3)(b)
Article 11(4)Article 13(4)
Article 11(5)
Article 11(6)Article 13(5), first subparagraph
Article 11(7)Article 13(5), second subparagraph
Articles 12 and 13Articles 14 and 15
Article 13aArticle 16
Articles 14 and 15Articles 17 and 18
Article 16(1)
Article 16(2)Article 19
Article 17, first paragraphArticle 20(1)
Article 17, second, third, fourth and fifth paragraphsArticle 20(2)
Article 18
Articles 19, 20 and 21Articles 21, 22 and 23
Article 22(1), (2) and (3)
Article 22(4)Article 24
Article 23
Article 24Article 25
Article 25
Article 26
Article 26
Article 27
Article 28
Annex IAnnex I
Annex IIAnnex II
Annex IIIAnnex III
Annex IV
Annex V
(2)

Opinion of the European Parliament of 18 January 2000 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and Council Decision of 13 March 2000.

(3)

OJ L 33, 8.2.1979, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Directive 97/4/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 43, 14.2.1997, p. 21).

(4)

See Annex IV, Part B.

(6)

[F3 OJ L 179, 14.7.1999, p. 1 . Regulation as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1795/2003 ( OJ L 262, 14.10.2003, p. 13 ).

(7)

OJ L 149, 14.6.1991, p. 1 . Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2061/96 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( OJ L 277, 30.10.1996, p. 1 ).

(8)

OJ L 160, 12.6.1989, p. 1 . Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 3378/94 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( OJ L 366, 31.12.1994, p. 1 ).]

(9)

[F3 OJ L 31, 1.2.2002, p. 1 . Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1642/2003 ( OJ L 245, 29.9.2003, p. 4 ).]

(10)

The specific name or EC number need not be indicated.

(11)

Only for processed cheeses and products based on processed cheeses.

(12)

[X1 OJ L 184, 15.7.1988, p. 61 . Directive as amended by Commission Directive 91/71/EEC ( OJ L 42, 15.2.1991, p. 25 ).]

(13)

[F8And products thereof, insofar as the process that they have undergone is not likely to increase the level of allergenicity assessed by the EFSA for the relevant product from which they originated.]