In May 2020, the European Commission presented the Farm to Fork strategy which is the EU initiative for a more sustainable, healthy, and fair food system. It is composed of approximately thirty regulatory and non-regulatory initiatives to promote sustainable food consumption, reduce food waste, encourage healthy eating patterns, and stimulate sustainable food processing plans. The first of these initiatives has already entered into force including a Code of Conduct for responsible food business and an organic production development plan. Many other steps are spread over the next few years.

One of the most impactful is an EC proposal to revise EU rules on front-of-pack labeling by the end of 2022. Nutritional labeling has been mandatory on all pre-packaged foods since 2016. However, the way it is presented currently is not harmonized by European law and is provided voluntarily by food business operators.

Spurred by the Farm to Fork strategy, it now seems that the Commission is moving towards mandatory front-of-pack nutrition information via a revision of Regulation 1169/2011. Currently, there are four categories of front-of-pack labels commonly used in the EU. From these, the EC will select and then propose a single mandatory labeling scheme. A public consultation on this is open through March 7, 2022. Each system has its own calculating methods, and the final labeling scheme is being debated. While opinions on labeling are accepted through the March deadline, the EC is not bound to act according to them.

Questions about Labeling? Contact us!

Picture Credit Susanne Kuehne

Posted on 17 March 2022