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Food Information Regulation

Food labelling changes after Brexit

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DEFRA have issued advice for food producers, manufacturers, retailers and suppliers on the changes to food labels if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

The rules for what you must show on food labels will change for some food and drink products if the UK leaves the EU without a deal on 29 March 2019. Some of the new rules will come into effect from exit day. For others, you’ll have longer to update your food labels. These proposals are subject to agreement with devolved administrations and Parliamentary process.

The UK government is aiming wherever possible to allow a transition period for labelling changes in relation to goods produced or imported and placed on the UK market after exit day.

Wherever a transition period is not possible, DEFRA will encourage pragmatic enforcement within the UK.

If you export food products to the EU

The UK has no control over how food labelling changes will be enforced outside the UK. EU and other non-EU countries may require the food labelling changes are made sooner than 29 March 2019 to export to their markets. You should get advice from your EU importing contact on the EU’s labelling requirements.

Changes from 29 March 2019

You must make certain changes by this date if your UK food product is placed on the UK or EU market after the UK leaves the EU on 29 March 2019.

The UK government is aiming to allow a transition period by encouraging pragmatic enforcement for these labelling changes in relation to goods produced or imported and placed on the UK market after exit day.

EU and other non-EU countries may require wholly accurate labelling for access to their markets. You should get advice from your EU importing contact on the EU’s labelling requirements.

Country of origin labels

It will be inaccurate to label UK food as origin ‘EU’. For the UK market, you should display additional information online and on signage in shops to help clarify the origin of the food. For the EU market UK food should not be labelled as origin ‘EU’.

You must not use the EU organic logo on any UK organic products, unless the UK and EU reach an equivalency arrangement – where both still recognise each other’s standards – before exit day.

You can continue to use your approved UK organic control body logo if you qualified to use it before Brexit.

The EU organic logo must not appear on UK organic goods. If the UK is able to achieve equivalence with the EU before the UK leaves on the 29 March, then UK organic goods can enter the EU and can continue to use the logo.

If the UK does not achieve recognition from the EU, the EU market will be closed to UK organic certified produce from 29 March.

EU emblem

You must not use the EU emblem on goods produced in the UK unless you have been authorised by the EU to do so.

Pre-packaged food and caseins sold in the EU

If you’re exporting food to the EU, you must include an EU address for the food business operator (FBO) or EU importer on your packaging or food label.

Changes by 31 December 2020

You must make certain changes by this date if your UK food product is placed on the UK or EU market after 29 March 2019.

There will be a transition period to December 2020 for labelling changes in relation to goods produced or imported and placed on the UK market after exit day.

EU and non-EU countries may require wholly accurate labelling for access to their markets. You should get advice from your EU importing contact on the EU’s labelling requirements.

EU health and identification marks

If you export UK products of animal origin (POAO) to the EU, you must replace the EU oval health and identification marks with new UK health and identification marks (to be released).

You can continue to use the EU oval health and identification mark on POAO from and sold in the UK until 31 December 2020.

The new UK health and identification marks for POAO will ensure that UK products continue to display an appropriate label that clearly shows the product has been subject to the strict health and welfare checks that will continue after the UK leaves the EU. The UK government is talking to countries about new marks and will update this guidance if there is a change you need to make.

There will be a 21-month transition period that will allow POAOs, produced and sold in the UK, that carry the oval identification mark, to display the EC identification mark.

Pre-packaged food and caseins sold in the UK

You must include a UK address for the food business operator (FBO) on pre-packaged food sold in the UK. If the FBO is not in the UK, include the address of your importer bringing the food into the UK.

Country of origin labels

You can continue to label all food with the specific country or countries of origin. You can label most foods as EU origin if it’s from a member state. Food produced in the UK cannot be labelled as EU origin. The following foods must no longer refer to the EU in its origin:

Minced meat

For minced meat (excluding beef and veal) made, for example, with meat from the UK and EU the origin would be labelled “UK and non-UK”.

Fruit and vegetables

Fruit and vegetables

For mixes of UK fruit and vegetables, you must replace any references to the EU with UK on the label. For example, “a mix of EU and non-EU origin” changes to “a mix of UK and non-UK origin”.

If you’re part of the Approved Trader Scheme, you must remove the EU flag from your UK food labels. You can use the replacement UK label instead.

Blended honeys and olive oil

If your honey or olive oil is a blend from different countries, you must list each country of origin on the label, or state “blend of [honeys/olive oils] from more than one country” (or similar wording) on the label.

Beef and veal

If the animal your beef or veal came from was born, reared or slaughtered outside of the UK and EU, your label must state “Origin: non-UK”.

For beef from live animals imported to the UK where you do not know the origin country of the animal, you should replace “live import into the EC” with “beef from a live import into the UK” on the label.

Eggs

If you import eggs that are not produced under farming methods that meet UK standards from non-EU countries, you should mark them as “Non-UK standard” rather than “Non-EC standard”.

If you produce a GI-protected food or drink product (except wine or spirits), you must use the relevant UK logo (to be released) on any products for sale in the UK. If you produce GI-protected wine or spirits, the logo use is optional.

‘We want to ensure labels are clearer’: UK mulls tougher allergy labelling regulations

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The UK government is looking at how “tougher labelling laws” can protect allergy sufferers and close loopholes in labelling requirements.

Regulators want to overhaul allergen labelling regulations with the aim of giving consumers more information on what is in the food they buy. An estimated two million people in the UK suffer from food allergies and the government said it wanted to provide these people with greater confidence that the food they are eating is safe.

Under current rules, food prepared on the premise where it is sold is not required to display allergen information on pack. When a food business sells prepacked food for direct sale the same regulations apply as to non-prepacked food under the EU Food Information for Consumers Regulation No. 1169/2011, commonly known as EU FIR 2014. This means food businesses preparing their products freshly on site are exempted from the obligation of labelling them with a list of ingredients.

At the moment, for food prepared and sold at the same site information on allergens is required to be verbally given by the food business if asked by the consumer.

The risks associated with this policy were highlighted by the tragic death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, a teenager who suffered an allergic reaction to a Pret a Manger baguette in July 2016. The coroner who presided over her inquest concluded that the current legislation is not adequate and requested a review.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove launched a consultation on proposed changes earlier this week.

“We want to ensure that labels are clearer and that the rules for businesses are more consistent – so that allergy sufferers in this country can have confidence in the safety of their food,” he said.

Paying tribute to the Ednan-Laperouse family, Gove acknowledged that “many businesses” are making changes to their allergen labelling independently. He urged them to continue to make progress on this issue while the consultation process is underway.

Four options on the table

The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) outlined four proposals to update the system. These range from mandating full ingredient list labelling, to allergen-only labelling on food packaging, ‘ask the staff’ labels with supporting information available in writing and “promoting best practice ” around communicating allergen labelling.

Food businesses and allergy sufferers have been invited to have their say on the four options put forward.

“It’s essential for those of us with a food allergy or intolerance to know that we can trust the food we eat. Accurate and reliable labelling is vital, and this consultation is firmly aimed at improving the confidence we have in it,” Food Standards Agency Chairman Heather Hancock said.

“In recent years choice, trust and availability has really improved for people with food allergy. We want those improvements to continue, so it’s important that we hear from everyone affected, as part of this consultation.”

‘Do more than the bare minimum’

The consultation has been welcomed by organisations representing allergy sufferers, including Allergy UK and the Anaphylaxis Campaign.

In a statement, the Anaphylaxis Campaign said it hoped both allergy sufferers and food businesses would participate in the consultation, stressing the need to find a workable solution for all stakeholders.

“The Anaphylaxis Campaign believes that food allergic individuals must be able to make informed decisions and to assess risk and self manage their condition when eating out. We welcome the government’s consultation as a way of understanding the views of all stakeholders and arriving at the best approach for all stakeholders and, in particular, those who suffer with food allergies. We hope all food business that sell food pre-packed for direct sale engage with this consultation to ensure that feasibility across all business sizes is
taken into consideration,” the organisation said.

Meanwhile Carla Jones, the CEO of Allergy UK, called on businesses to do more to ensure allergen information is clearly communicated. “At Allergy UK we believe that whilst those living with allergies must be vigilant on their own behalf, the broader food industry needs to do more than just the bare minimum when it comes to catering for the allergic community,” she stressed.

UAE bans formula ads in attempt to promote breastfeeding

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The UAE Cabinet has implemented a blanket ban on the advertising of infant formula and other infant nutrition products, including follow-up formula and complementary foods.

The marketing and advertising of other formula-related products,such as feeding bottles and teats, have also been banned.

This regulatory update is based on a law that was passed in April last year, whereby a resolution to regulate the marketing of breastmilk substitutes was adopted.

The purpose of the law was to promote exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life, while ensuring that children who needed formula consumed only safe and natural breastmilk substitutes.

Manufacturers were also required to provide approved identification cards containing relevant information on optimal consumption.

The law was implemented in accordance with the International Marketing Code of Breastfeeding, as well as WHO and UNICEF recommendations that babies be breastfed exclusively for the first six months of life, after which complementary foods can be introduced as a supplement to breastfeeding until children are two years of age or older.

These recommendations are in turn based on the idea that breastmilk is superior to other forms of nutrition when it comes to healthy growth and development and disease prevention in infants and young children.

Dr Esmat Mohd Al Qassim, head of the primary healthcare department’s mother and child health section (under the Ministry of Health and Prevention), said the main function of the new law was to help protect, promote and support breastfeeding by regulating the marketing and advertising of nutrition products for infants and young children (birth to two years old).

The promotion of such products, she added, had to be prohibited as it would affect breastfeeding and “undermine mothers’ confidence”.

In addition to the advertising ban, the UAE government also aims to promote breastfeeding by encouraging hospitals, clinics, and healthcare centres to be ‘baby-friendly’, in line with UNICEF and WHO guidelines.

This includes healthcare professionals attending the WHO-UNICEF’s 20-hour breastfeeding promotion course and 90-hour lactation course, as well as familiarising themselves with official breastfeeding assessment guidelines.

Furthermore, the UAE’s annual International Breastfeeding Week (August 1 to 7) and National Breastfeeding Week (November 8 to 14) seeks to further raise awareness and educate mothers.

Wider support network

Apart from the aforementioned branches of government promotion of breastfeeding in the UAE, a wider network has also been established to ensure mothers receive adequate support when it comes to infant nutrition.

The Breastfeeding Friends (BFF) Society in Sharjah is one such voluntary organisation.

Breastfeeding counsellor and supervisor Badriyyah Riad told local media that the added nutrients in certain formula products were “not research-based” , and that “false advertising” was involved.

She also raised concerns about doctors recommending formula to parents as a first choice for their children, adding that company representatives should not be allowed to offer samples and gifts to parents or doctors.

BFF reports any observation of suspicious activity in this regard to the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN), and emphasises the importance of enforcement to keep International Code violations at bay.

However, it also recognises that mothers need sufficient support in order to minimise their chances of choosing formula over breastfeeding. Riad said that for mothers who claim to lack adequate milk to breastfeed, BFF teaches them that it is “a matter of simple adjustments” .

BFF also provides a 40-hour training course for peer counsellors on common problems faced by mothers, and prepares mothers for their post-natal return to work by educating them on their maternity leave entitlements, and how to incorporate breastfeeding into their lifestyle.

At the same time, the organisation’s volunteers visit new mothers in the hospital during the Breastfeeding Weeks, offer hotline support 10 hours a day in three languages — Arabic, English and Urdu — and are all enrolled in peer counsellor training to learn how best to manage mothers’ concerns.

Salma Haroun — who has been volunteering with BFF since 2005 — said, “We also educate our volunteers on how to recognise when a formula company has violated any law on marketing and advertising their products.”

Formulating solutions for the individual

She added that despite the strict regulations on formula advertising, BFF acknowledged the necessity of formula in certain situations.

“We do understand there are situations where mothers need some kind of supplementation (to feed their children), but the laws are important so that mothers who have no problem breastfeeding are not offered formula.

“When we meet mothers who have medical or hormonal issues that prevent them from breastfeeding properly, we do our best to assist them in providing for their babies using mixed feeding. But before that, we offer help in stimulating breastmilk production, and encourage mothers to visit our lactation clinic in Sharjah.”

Outside of Sharjah and throughout the UAE, BFF boasts an extensive network of volunteers who are able to refer mothers to suitable healthcare professionals in their respective areas of residence.

“We respect every mother’s decision, but before she makes the final conclusion on how best to feed her child, we want to be sure we have given her all the information and help she needs.

“Infant nutrition products from any company that does not engage in Code violations should be safe to consume, but again, we would not recommend this approach to all mothers — we prefer to assess them individually and make such recommendations on a case-by-case basis.”