Let our food label compliance consulting services help you grow your business by taking the hassle out of food labelling and food safety compliance with the European Food Safety Authority
The European Union represents one of the world’s most lucrative food markets, with 27 member states and over 440 million consumers. Successfully entering EU markets requires navigating comprehensive, harmonized food labeling requirements that prioritize consumer information, transparency, and protection. The primary regulatory framework—Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, commonly called FIC (Food Information to Consumers)—establishes mandatory labeling requirements applicable across all member states. Our team helps navigate EU Food Label Compliance.
At FTC International, we provide specialized EU food label compliance services, helping manufacturers, importers, and distributors understand and implement FIC requirements, navigate country-specific language obligations, and achieve compliant market access across European markets. Whether you’re entering a single EU market or planning multi-country distribution, our regulatory expertise ensures your labels meet EU standards.
EU food labeling is governed by a harmonized regulatory framework that applies across all member states, creating consistency while respecting linguistic and cultural diversity.
Core EU Regulatory Framework:
Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 (FIC): The primary legislation governing food information to consumers, covering general labeling requirements, nutrition declarations, allergen information, legibility standards, and mandatory particulars. FIC became fully applicable in December 2016 and represents the foundation of EU labeling compliance.
Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006: Governs nutrition and health claims on foods, establishing specific conditions for making nutrition claims (like “low fat”) and health claims (relating food to health outcomes).
Vertical Regulations: Product-specific regulations for categories like meat products, honey, fruit juices, spreadable fats, and other specified foods that supplement general FIC requirements.
Member State Implementation: While FIC is directly applicable across the EU, member states implement specific aspects (particularly language requirements) through national legislation.
Understanding this regulatory hierarchy is essential for EU compliance. Our team helps you navigate these interconnected requirements efficiently.
Mandatory Food Information Under FIC
FIC specifies mandatory particulars that must appear on food labels throughout the EU. Understanding what must be included—and how—is fundamental to compliance.
FIC Mandatory Particulars:
Name of the Food: The legal name as prescribed by EU regulations, or where none exists, the customary name, or a descriptive name. Fanciful names alone are insufficient.
List of Ingredients: Complete ingredients in descending order by weight, with specific sub-ingredient requirements and allergen emphasis.
Allergen Information: The 14 EU allergens must be emphasized in the ingredient list (typically through bold type, contrasting color, or different font).
Quantity of Certain Ingredients or Categories (QUID): When ingredients appear in the name or are emphasized on labeling, their percentage quantity must be declared.
Net Quantity: Expressed in metric units (grams, kilograms, millilitres, litres) according to FIC specifications.
Date Marking: “Best before” or “use by” dates, depending on food type and perishability.
Storage Conditions and Conditions of Use: When specific storage or usage conditions are necessary for food safety or proper use.
Name and Address: Name and address of the food business operator (manufacturer or EU importer) responsible for the food information.
Country of Origin or Place of Provenance: Mandatory when omission might mislead consumers, and specifically required for certain product categories.
Instructions for Use: When necessary to enable appropriate use of the food.
Alcohol Content: For beverages containing more than 1.2% alcohol by volume.
Nutrition Declaration: Mandatory nutritional information in the prescribed EU format (with specific exemptions for certain product categories).
Each element has detailed implementation requirements. We ensure your labels include all mandatory particulars in compliant formats.
Send us your inquiry (if you wish to receive a label quotation, please include a copy of your label files).
Allergen management is a critical consumer protection priority in the EU. FIC establishes specific requirements for allergen information presentation.
The 14 EU Allergens:
Allergen Emphasis Requirements:
FIC requires allergens to be emphasized in the ingredient list to differentiate them visually from other ingredients. Acceptable emphasis methods include bold typeface, contrasting background color, CAPITAL LETTERS, or different font styles—but the method must clearly distinguish allergens.
Emphasis Must Be Clear: The chosen emphasis method must result in clear distinction. Subtle differences in font or half-hearted bolding may not meet FIC requirements.
Precautionary Allergen Labeling (PAL): “May contain” statements remain voluntary and unregulated at EU level, though some member states provide national guidance. PAL should not substitute for proper allergen management and should be used only where genuine cross-contamination risk exists despite good manufacturing practices.
Allergen Information for Non-Prepackaged Foods: Separate requirements apply to foods sold without packaging (e.g., restaurant meals, bakery items sold loose), typically requiring allergen information to be available in writing or communicated orally with written backup.
Our allergen review ensures proper emphasis of all 14 EU allergens, compliant emphasis methods that meet legibility standards, and appropriate precautionary statements where used.
The mandatory declaration must include seven elements in this specific order:
Additional nutrients may be voluntarily declared, but if included must follow FIC formatting requirements.
Presentation Format:
The nutrition declaration must be presented in tabular format with aligned numbers, or where space is limited, in linear format. The information must appear together in one place, in a legible font size (specified minimum x-height of 1.2mm for most packages).
Per 100g or 100ml Basis:
Mandatory declaration must be expressed per 100 grams or 100 millilitres of the food. Additional per-portion declarations may be provided but don’t replace the per-100g/100ml requirement.
Reference Intakes:
Percentage reference intakes may be voluntarily declared, based on EU reference intake values. If declared, specific presentation rules apply.
Exemptions:
Certain products are exempt from mandatory nutrition declarations, including unprocessed single-ingredient products, foods in very small packages (<25 cm² surface area), and specific product categories listed in FIC Annex V.
We ensure your nutrition declarations follow EU-specific formats, include mandatory nutrients in the correct order, use proper EU reference intake values (if declared), and comply with legibility requirements.
EU ingredient lists follow specific rules that differ from other jurisdictions in important ways.
EU Ingredient List Specifics:
Descending Order by Weight: Ingredients must be listed in descending order by weight at time of manufacture, with specific rules for concentrated or dehydrated ingredients.
Compound Ingredient Rules: Ingredients that themselves consist of multiple ingredients must list those sub-ingredients, with specific exemptions when the compound ingredient constitutes less than 2% of the final product.
Ingredient Category Names: Certain ingredients may be designated by category name rather than specific name (e.g., “vegetable oil” rather than “rapeseed oil”), though more specific declaration is often required when ingredients are emphasized or feature in the product name.
Water Declaration: Added water must be declared if it exceeds 5% of the final product, positioned in the ingredient list according to its weight.
Additives: Food additives must be listed with their category name (e.g., “preservative”) followed by their specific name or E-number (e.g., “preservative: potassium sorbate” or “preservative: E202”).
Allergen Emphasis: As discussed previously, the 14 allergens must be visually emphasized whenever they appear in the ingredient list.
We review your ingredient lists for EU compliance, including proper order, correct nomenclature, appropriate sub-ingredient declarations, compliant additive identification, and proper allergen emphasis.
The Quantitative Ingredient Declaration (QUID) rule requires percentage declarations for certain ingredients—a requirement that surprises many companies unfamiliar with EU regulations.
When QUID Is Mandatory:
QUID is required when an ingredient or category of ingredients:
QUID Placement:
The percentage must appear either in the name of the food or in the ingredient list next to the relevant ingredient.
QUID Calculations:
Percentages are typically based on weight at time of ingredient addition, with specific calculation rules for concentrated, dehydrated, or processed ingredients.
QUID Exemptions:
Certain situations exempt products from QUID, including when ingredient quantity doesn’t characterize the product, for garnishes or decorations with minimal presence, or when other EU legislation already specifies the quantity.
QUID compliance requires understanding both when it applies and how to calculate and present percentages correctly. We provide guidance on QUID obligations for your specific products.
FIC introduced specific minimum legibility requirements to ensure consumers can actually read label information—a requirement enforced across the EU.
FIC Legibility Standards:
Minimum Font Size: Mandatory information must be printed with an x-height (height of lowercase letter “x”) of at least 1.2mm. For packages where the largest surface area is less than 80 cm², the minimum x-height is 0.9mm.
Clear and Legible: Information must be indelible, easily visible, and clearly legible. Sufficient contrast between text and background is required, though FIC doesn’t specify exact contrast ratios.
Language Requirements: Information must appear in a language easily understood by consumers in the member state where the product is sold, which typically means the official language(s) of that member state.
Field of Vision: Certain information must appear in the same field of vision (product name, net quantity, and nominal alcohol content for alcoholic beverages).
Non-compliance with legibility requirements is a frequent enforcement issue. We review your labels for proper font sizing, appropriate contrast, and compliant presentation.
While FIC establishes harmonized content requirements, language obligations vary by member state, creating complexity for companies selling across multiple EU countries.
Language Compliance Strategies:
Single Market Approach: For products sold in one member state, use that country’s official language(s). For example, products for Germany use German; products for France use French; products for Belgium might need French and Flemish.
Multi-Country Labeling: Products distributed across multiple markets require multi-language labels. Common approaches include:
Supplementary Languages: English or other languages may appear in addition to the required local language(s) but cannot replace them.
Import/Export Considerations: Products imported from outside the EU must meet language requirements of the destination member state(s).
We help you determine appropriate language strategies for your target EU markets, ensuring compliance while managing label space constraints.
The EU maintains stringent requirements for nutrition and health claims under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
Nutrition Claims:
Claims about nutritional properties (e.g., “low fat,” “high in fibre,” “source of vitamin C”) are only permitted if they meet specific nutrient criteria defined in the Regulation. The EU maintains an approved list of permitted nutrition claims with precise conditions for use.
Health Claims:
Claims relating food or food components to health are highly regulated. Only health claims authorized by the European Commission and included in the EU Register of Nutrition and Health Claims are permitted. Unauthorized health claims are prohibited.
Health Claim Requirements:
Authorized health claims must use specified wording (though some flexibility in presentation is permitted), include required accompanying information about consumption conditions, and meet specific nutritional criteria for the food carrying the claim.
Botanical Claims:
Claims about botanical ingredients (plants, herbs, extracts) are in regulatory limbo pending final EU decisions. Many botanical claims remain under evaluation, and enforcement varies by member state.
Claim Substantiation:
All claims must be substantiated with scientific evidence. Misleading claims or claims that cannot be substantiated are prohibited.
We help you identify permissible EU claims, verify compliance with EU claim conditions, and ensure accompanying information meets requirements.
FIC requires country of origin or place of provenance declarations in specific circumstances.
When Origin Must Be Declared:
Origin is mandatory when its absence might mislead consumers, particularly where origin implications from label design, branding, or imagery differ from actual origin. Specific products also have mandatory origin requirements (fresh meat from swine, sheep, goats, and poultry; honey; olive oil; fruits and vegetables; fish).
Primary Ingredient Origin:
When country of origin or place of provenance is declared for a food, the origin of the primary ingredient must also be stated if it differs from the food’s origin—a requirement that adds complexity for multi-component products.
“Made in” vs. “Product of”:
The EU distinguishes between these terms. “Product of” implies ingredients originate in the stated country; “Made in” indicates processing or significant transformation occurred there.
EU regulations distinguish between quality-based and safety-based date marking.
“Best Before” Date:
Used for foods that are microbiologically stable, indicating the date until which the food retains its optimal quality. After this date, the food may lose quality but isn’t necessarily unsafe.
“Use By” Date:
Used for highly perishable foods from a microbiological perspective, indicating the date after which the food should not be consumed for safety reasons. Products past “use by” dates should be discarded.
Format Requirements:
Dates must be declared with day, month, and year (though year alone is acceptable for foods with durability exceeding 18 months). Wording must be “best before” or “use by” as appropriate.
Successfully entering EU markets requires strategic planning beyond label compliance.
Market Entry Considerations:
Food Business Operator Registration: An EU-established food business operator must be responsible for the food information. Non-EU manufacturers typically designate an EU importer as the responsible operator.
Product Composition: Ensure your product formulation complies with EU food composition regulations, including permitted additives, maximum residue levels, and contaminant limits.
Certification Requirements: Certain products require specific certifications or approvals (e.g., organic certification, PDO/PGI designations, health certificates for animal products).
Customs Compliance: Products entering the EU face customs checks. Non-compliant labels can result in detention or refusal of entry at EU borders.
Retail Requirements: Major EU retailers often impose requirements beyond regulatory minimums, including private quality standards and social responsibility certifications.
While FIC is EU-wide legislation, enforcement occurs at member state level through national competent authorities.
Enforcement Realities:
Market Surveillance: Member state authorities conduct regular market surveillance, checking retail products for compliance with FIC and related regulations.
Import Controls: Products entering the EU face customs and food safety checks where non-compliant labels can be detected.
Non-Compliance Consequences: Range from corrective action requests and product withdrawals to fines and criminal prosecution for serious violations. Penalties vary by member state.
Recall Potential: Serious labeling violations, particularly affecting allergen information or creating food safety concerns, can trigger recalls across multiple member states.
Most EU labeling violations are preventable with proper pre-market review.
When you engage FTC International for EU food label compliance, you receive comprehensive regulatory expertise:
We Review:
We Provide:
Single Product Label Review:
Multi-Product Reviews:
Nutrition Analysis Add-On:
Rush Service Available: Need it faster? We offer 5-7 business day turnaround for an additional 50% fee (subject to availability).
Payment Terms: 50% deposit to start, balance due upon delivery of final report. We accept credit cards, e-transfer, and wire transfer.
Our founder and CEO, has over 36 years of experience in the food industry and is dedicated to helping businesses succeed through product development and regulatory compliance.
Our food safety expert, has a deep understanding of the complex regulations governing the food industry and can help ensure your products are safe and compliant.
Our regulatory compliance specialist, stays up-to-date on the latest regulations and can provide guidance to help ensure your products meet all necessary requirements.
Our product development consultant, can assist with all aspects of product development, from ideation to commercialization.
Our technical writing expert, can provide grant application writing and scientific reports to support your business goals.
Already selling in some EU markets? We can help you expand:
From UK to EU Post-Brexit: UK and EU labeling requirements have diverged since Brexit. We guide adaptation of UK labels for EU compliance.
EU to Other Markets: Understanding EU requirements provides strong foundation for other markets. Explore our other services:
External Resources:
https://food.ec.europa.eu/food-safety/labelling-and-nutrition_en
Ready to enter European markets or ensure your existing EU labels meet FIC requirements? Contact FTC International today.
Our EU regulatory specialists provide practical, business-oriented guidance for navigating FIC requirements, multi-country language obligations, and the complexities of European food labeling. Whether you’re launching your first EU product or expanding across member states, we ensure your labels meet EU standards.
Protect your European market access with expert FIC compliance guidance. Let us help you navigate the EU regulatory landscape successfully—before you print and before you ship.
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FTC International | Serving the food industry since 1999 | Canada • USA • EU
The information on this page is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Regulations change frequently. Contact us for current requirements specific to your product.
Send us your inquiry (if you wish to receive a label quotation, please include a copy of your label files).