Background

FoodDrinkEurope guidelines: origin indication of the primary ingredient

Published: 29/05/2020

Article 26 of Regulation (EU) 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers provides for the adoption of implementing acts in cases where the country of origin or the place of provenance of a food is given and where it is not the same as that of its primary ingredient.

On 28 May 2018, Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/775 was adopted to fulfil this obligation. It entered into force on 1 June 2018 and is applicable since 1 April 2020. This Implementing Regulation clarifies how the origin of primary ingredients shall be labelled when it is different than the given origin of the food. However, a number of uncertainties remain as regards the implementation of these provisions.

To this end, FoodDrinkEurope, EuroCommerce, and Primary Food Processors have updated their guidance document to identify existing uncertainties, with reference to the appropriate legal provisions.
The updated guidance document also includes the Q&As from the Commission Notice on the application of the provisions of Article 26(3)of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 with regard to the origin indication of the primary ingredient of a food, and thus provides food business operators with full, comprehensive information on the interpretation of the legal provisions.