An array of regulations has to be taken into account in the labelling of foodstuffs – in particular for food supplements, dietetic foods and foods for special medical purposes (FSMP). Diapharm supports companies in determining the complete and correct labelling of their products, helping them avoid complaints from supervisory authorities.
Among the mandatory particulars a foodstuff must display are the list of ingredients, the best-before date and the name and address of the food business operator. Also regulated is where and how these particulars are to appear on the foodstuff (field of vision, font size requirements, etc.).
The core document for mandatory labelling as of December 2014 is the “Regulation on the provision of food information to consumers”, (EU) No. 1169/2011, or FIC regulation. The old Directive on nutrition labelling and the Directive on labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs are no longer valid as of December 2014. The new food information regulation does not fully regulate mandatory labelling particulars. Further regulations, directives and laws define additional details. Exemplary in this regard is the Directive on pre-packaged products that also applies to foodstuffs.
Optional statements of particulars in connection with health claims (advertising texts) for foodstuffs – and especially for food supplements – are subject to additional mandatory requirements, which are derived from regulation (EC) No. 1924/2006. Further information for you is available on the page health claims.
And for food supplements, additional requirements apply once again to labelling. This product group is defined by Directive 2002/46/EC as: “food supplements means foodstuffs the purpose of which is to supplement the normal diet and which are concentrated sources of nutrients or other substances with a nutritional or physiological effect, alone or in combination, marketed in dose form, namely forms such as capsules, pastilles, tablets, pills and other similar forms, sachets of powder, ampoules of liquids, drop dispensing bottles, and other similar forms of liquids and powders designed to be taken in measured small unit quantities.”
Additional labelling elements for food supplements are defined in the Directive 2002/46/EC. Among others, the particulars of recommended intake (recommended daily dose) or special comments in regard to children or in connection with a varied diet belong to the mandatory labelling of food supplements.
