GRS Blog

EU: Consumer friendly juice labelling rules approved

16/12/2011

More changes are afoot within the food industry.

The European Parliament has approved new labelling rules for fruit juices and nectars.  The changes only need approval by the European Council.

The key change is that mixed juices must have a name which accurately reflects the contents.  For example, a product with 90% apple juice and 10% strawberry juice will now have to be called "apple and strawberry juice" whereas before it could be labelled as "strawberry juice".  The aim of this new legislation is that consumers (particularly diabetics, parents and those on diets) can clearly see the difference between a juice and a nectar and have clear information on the presence of sweetners.

After the legislation is ratified, any products already on the market before the date of ratification can continue to be sold with their current labelling for up to 3 years afterwards.  Member States will have 18 months to update their own national laws.

Increasingly stringent regulations is clearly an ongoing trend.  Manufacturers and retailers must ensure they keep up with the pace of change.

Author: Greer Deal, Director of Global Regulatory Services