Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 on the provision of food information to consumers, amending Regulations (EC) No 1924/2006 and (EC) No 1925/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Commission Directive 87/250/EEC, Council Directive 90/496/EEC, Commission Directive 1999/10/EC, Directive 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, Commission Directives 2002/67/EC and 2008/5/EC and Commission Regulation (EC) No 608/2004 (Text with EEA relevance) (c. 1169)

CHAPTER II U.K. GENERAL PRINCIPLES ON FOOD INFORMATION

Article 3 U.K. General objectives

1. The provision of food information shall pursue a high level of protection of consumers’ health and interests by providing a basis for final consumers to make informed choices and to make safe use of food, with particular regard to health, economic, environmental, social and ethical considerations.

2. [F1 Type C, D and E regulations must take] into account, where appropriate, the need to protect the legitimate interests of producers and to promote the production of quality products.

3. When [F2 type C, D or E regulations establish] new requirements, a transitional period after the entry into force of the new requirements shall be granted, except in duly justified cases. During such transitional period, foods bearing labels not complying with the new requirements may be placed on the market, and stocks of such foods that have been placed on the market before the end of the transitional period may continue to be sold until exhausted.

4. An open and transparent public consultation [F3 (so far as not already required by Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002)] shall be conducted, including with stakeholders, directly or through representative bodies, during the preparation, evaluation and revision of food information law, except where the urgency of the matter does not allow it.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Art. 3(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/778), regs. 1, 4(3)(a); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F2 Words in Art. 3(3) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/778), regs. 1, 4(3)(b); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F3 Words in Art. 3(4) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Food (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/529), regs. 1, 5(4); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Article 4 U.K. Principles governing mandatory food information

1. Where mandatory food information is required by food information law, it shall concern information that falls, in particular, into one of the following categories:

(a) information on the identity and composition, properties or other characteristics of the food;

(b) information on the protection of consumers’ health and the safe use of a food. In particular, it shall concern information on:

(i)

compositional attributes that may be harmful to the health of certain groups of consumers;

(ii)

durability, storage and safe use;

(iii)

the health impact, including the risks and consequences related to harmful and hazardous consumption of a food;

(c) information on nutritional characteristics so as to enable consumers, including those with special dietary requirements, to make informed choices.

2. When considering the need for mandatory food information and to enable consumers to make informed choices, account shall be taken of a widespread need on the part of the majority of consumers for certain information to which they attach significant value or of any generally accepted benefits to the consumer.

F4 Article 5 U.K. Consultation of the European Food Safety Authority

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Textual Amendments

F4 Art. 5 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Food (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/529), regs. 1, 5(5); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)