Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the CouncilShow full title

Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 on the provision of food information to consumers, amending Regulations (EC) No 1924/2006 and (EC) No 1925/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Commission Directive 87/250/EEC, Council Directive 90/496/EEC, Commission Directive 1999/10/EC, Directive 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, Commission Directives 2002/67/EC and 2008/5/EC and Commission Regulation (EC) No 608/2004 (Text with EEA relevance)

1.The date of minimum durability shall be indicated as follows:U.K.

(a)

the date shall be preceded by the words:

  • ‘Best before …’ when the date includes an indication of the day,

  • ‘Best before end …’ in other cases,

(b)

the words referred to in point (a) shall be accompanied by:

  • either the date itself, or,

  • a reference to where the date is given on the labelling,

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;

(c)

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

However, in the case of foods:

  • which will not keep for more than 3 months, an indication of the day and the month shall be sufficient,

  • which will keep for more than 3 months but not more than 18 months, an indication of the month and year shall be sufficient,

  • which will keep for more than 18 months, an indication of the year shall be sufficient,

(d)

subject to Union provisions imposing other types of date indication, an indication of the date of minimum durability shall not be required for:

  • fresh fruit and vegetables, including potatoes, which have not been peeled, cut or similarly treated; this derogation shall not apply to sprouting seeds and similar products such as legume sprouts,

  • wines, liqueur wines, sparkling wines, aromatised wines, and similar products obtained from fruit other than grapes, and beverages falling within CN code 2206 00 obtained from grapes or grape musts,

  • beverages containing 10 % or more by volume of alcohol,

  • bakers’ or pastry cooks’ wares which, given the nature of their content, are normally consumed within 24 hours of their manufacture,

  • vinegar,

  • cooking salt,

  • solid sugar,

  • confectionery products consisting almost solely of flavoured and/or coloured sugars,

  • [X1chewing gums and similar chewing products.]

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