Mandatory Labelling of Prepackaged Foods PDF

MANDATORY LABELLING OF PREPACKAGED FOODS Date marking and storage instructions If not otherwise determined in an individual Codex standard, the following date marking shall apply: (i) The “date of minimum durability” shall be declared. (ii) This shall consist at least of: the day and the month for p...

MANDATORY LABELLING OF PREPACKAGED FOODS Date marking and storage instructions If not otherwise determined in an individual Codex standard, the following date marking shall apply: (i) The “date of minimum durability” shall be declared. (ii) This shall consist at least of: the day and the month for products with a minimum durability of not more than three months; the month and the year for products with a minimum durability of more than three months. If the month is December, it is sufficient to indicate the year. (iii) The date shall be declared by the words: “Best before...” where the day is indicated; “Best before end...” in other cases. (iv) The words referred to in paragraph (iii) shall be accompanied by: either the date itself; or a reference to where the date is given. MANDATORY LABELLING OF PREPACKAGED FOODS Date marking and storage instructions (v) The day, month and year shall be declared in uncoded numerical sequence except that the month may be indicated by letters in those countries where such use will not confuse the consumer. (vi) Notwithstanding, an indication of the date of minimum durability shall not be required for: fresh fruits and vegetables, including potatoes which have not been peeled, cut or similarly treated; wines, liqueur wines, sparkling wines, aromatized wines, fruit wines and sparkling fruit wines; beverages containing 10% or more by volume of alcohol; bakers’ or pastry-cooks’ wares which, given the nature of their content, are normally consumed within 24 hours of their manufacture; vinegar; food grade salt; solid sugars; confectionery products consisting of flavoured and/or coloured sugars; chewing gum. In addition to the date of minimum durability, any special conditions for the storage of the food shall be declared on the label if the validity of the date depends thereon. MANDATORY LABELLING OF PREPACKAGED FOODS Instructions for use Instructions for use, including reconstitution, where applicable, shall be included on the label, as necessary, to ensure correct utilization of the food. ADDITIONAL MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS Quantitative ingredients declaration (5.1.1)-The ingoing percentage of an ingredient (including compound ingredients or categories of ingredients ), by weight or volume as appropriate, at the time of manufacture, shall be disclosed for foods sold as a mixture or combination where the ingredient: 5 6 (a) is emphasised as present on the label through words or pictures or graphics; or (b) is not within the name of the food, is essential to characterise the food and is expected to be present in the food by consumers in the country where the food is sold if the omission of the quantitative ingredient declaration would mislead or deceive the consumer. ADDITIONAL MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS Quantitative ingredients declaration Such disclosure is not required: (c) where the ingredient is used in small quantities for the purpose of flavouring; or (d) where commodity specific standards of Codex Alimentarius conflict with the requirements described here. ADDITIONAL MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS Quantitative ingredients declaration With respect to 5.1.1(a): (e) a reference in the name of the food to an ingredient or category of ingredients shall not of itself require quantitative ingredient declaration if: - that reference would not mislead or deceive or would not be likely to create an erroneous impression to the consumer regarding the character of the food in the country of marketing because the variation in quantity of the ingredient(s) between products is not necessary to characterise the food or distinguish it from similar foods. ADDITIONAL MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS Quantitative ingredients declaration (5.1.2)-The information required in Section 5.1.1 shall be declared on the product label as a numerical percentage. The ingoing percentage, by weight or volume as appropriate, of each such ingredient shall be given on the label in close proximity to the words or pictures or graphics emphasising the particular ingredient, or beside the name of the food, or adjacent to each appropriate ingredient listed in the ingredient list as a minimum percentage where emphasis is on the presence of the ingredient and a maximum percentage where emphasis is on the low level of the ingredient. ADDITIONAL MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS Quantitative ingredients declaration For foodstuffs which have lost moisture following heat or other treatment, the percentage (by weight or by volume) shall correspond to the quantity of the ingredient(s) used, related to the finished product. When the quantity of an ingredient or the total quantity of all ingredients expressed on the labelling exceeds 100%, the percentage may be replaced by the declaration of the weight of the ingredient(s) used to prepare 100g of finished product.