1.The net quantity of prepackaged foodstuffs shall be expressed:
in units of volume in the case of liquids,
in units of mass in the case of other products,
using the litre, centilitre, millilitre, kilogram or gram, as appropriate.
Community provisions or, where there are none, national provisions applicable to certain specified foodstuffs may derogate from this rule.
The procedure laid down in Article 19 shall apply to any such national provisions.
2.(a)Where the indication of a certain type of quantity (e.g. nominal quantity, minimum quantity, average quantity) is required by Community provisions or, where there are none, by national provisions, this quantity shall be regarded as the net quantity for the purposes of this Directive.
Without prejudice to the notification provided for in Article 24, Member States shall inform the Commission and the other Member States of any measure taken pursuant to this point.
(b)Community provisions or, where there are none, national provisions may, for certain specified foodstuffs classified by quantity in categories, require other indications of quantity.
The procedure laid down in Article 19 shall apply to any such national provisions.
(c)Where a prepackaged item consists of two or more individual prepackaged items containing the same quantity of the same product, the net quantity shall be indicated by mentioning the net quantity contained in each individual package and the total number of such packages. Indication of these particulars shall not, however, be compulsory where the total number of individual packages can be clearly seen and easily counted from the outside and where at least one indication of the net quantity contained in each individual package can be clearly seen from the outside.
(d)Where a prepackaged item consists of two or more individual packages which are not regarded as units of sale, the net quantity shall be given by indicating the total net quantity and the total number of individual packages. Community provisions or, where there are none, national provisions need not, in the case of certain foodstuffs, require indication of the total number of individual packages.
Without prejudice to the notification provided for in Article 24, Member States shall inform the Commission and the other Member States of any measure taken pursuant to this point.
3.In the case of foodstuffs normally sold by number, Member States need not require indication of the net quantity provided that the number of items can clearly be seen and easily counted from the outside or, if not, is indicated on the labelling.
Without prejudice to the notification provided for in Article 24, Member States shall inform the Commission and the other Member States of any measure taken pursuant to this paragraph.
4.Where a solid foodstuff is presented in a liquid medium, the drained net weight of the foodstuff shall also be indicated on the labelling.
For the purposes of this paragraph, ‘liquid medium’ shall mean the following products, possibly in mixtures and also where frozen or quick-frozen, provided that the liquid is merely an adjunct to the essential elements of that preparation and is thus not a decisive factor for the purchase: water, aqueous solutions of salts, brine, aqueous solutions of food acids, vinegar, aqueous solutions of sugars, aqueous solutions of other sweetening substances, fruit or vegetable juices in the case of fruit or vegetables.
This list may be supplemented in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 20(2).
Methods of checking the drained net weight shall be determined in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 20(2).
5.It shall not be compulsory to indicate the net quantity in the case of foodstuffs:
(a)which are subject to considerable losses in their volume or mass and which are sold by number or weighed in the presence of the purchaser;
(b)the net quantity of which is less than 5 g or 5 ml; however, this provision shall not apply to spices and herbs.
Community provisions or, where there are none, national provisions applicable to specified foodstuffs may in exceptional cases lay down thresholds which are higher than 5 g or 5 ml provided that this does not result in the purchaser being inadequately informed.
Without prejudice to the notification provided for in Article 24, Member States shall inform the Commission and the other Member States of any measure taken pursuant to this paragraph.
6.The Community provisions referred to in paragraphs 1, second subparagraph, 2(b) and (d) and 5, second subparagraph, shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 20(2).