News
31.03.2020 - Foods
From 01 April, indication of origin for primary ingredients mandatory
According to Implementing Regulation (EU) No. 2018/775, as of April 1, 2020, it is mandatory to indicate the country of origin or place of provenance of the primary ingredient of food according to Art. 26 (3) of Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011 (Food Information Regulation - FIR).
Art. 26 (3) FIR states that if the country of origin or place of provenance of a food is indicated and this is not identical to the country of origin or place of provenance of its so-called "primary ingredient," the country of origin or place of provenance of the primary ingredient must also be indicated.
Primary ingredient(s) is the ingredient or ingredients of a food that make up over 50 percent of the food or that consumers usually associate with the name of the food and for which a quantitative declaration is required in most cases. Compound ingredients can also be primary ingredients if they meet the conditions of the definition of "primary ingredient."
The origin declaration must have a minimum font size of generally 1.2 mm. If the country of origin or place of provenance of a food is indicated with words, the reference to the origin of the primary ingredient must be included in the same field of vision as the declaration of the country of origin or place of provenance. The font size must be at least 75 percent of the font size of the declaration of the country of origin or place of provenance of the food.
In cases where the country of origin or place of provenance of the food is not indicated in writing but as a symbol, drawing, or other graphical representation, the indication of the origin of the primary ingredient must appear in the same field of vision as the representation of the country of origin or place of provenance.
Food placed on the market or labeled before April 1, 2020, may continue to be marketed until stocks are exhausted.
For questions, our customer representatives are happy to assist you.
Sources:
Implementing Regulation (EU) No. 2018/775
Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011 (FIR)
Händlerbund, www.haendlerbund.de