Help for Food Business in Applying New EU Labelling Regulations
Nutritional food regulation expert, Liz Tucker, will be holding a series of seminars at NatWest offices in Taunton, Exeter, Truro and Bristol, on September, 22, 23, 24.
The seminars should help South West food producers, farm shops, caterers and cafes understand in more detail what they have to do to ensure their business is in line with the new regulations (Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011) coming into force on 13th December 2014.
The new regulations change existing legislation on food labelling, designed to standardise nutrition information on processed or composite foods across the EU. This will also include new legislation for both pre-packaged and non-repacked foods including those sold in delicatessens, farm shops, restaurants and cafés. Business size is immaterial; basically if you sell food for profit you will come under the regulations.
These regulations came out in 2000 and for larger producers these changes are well known but smaller businesses and the catering industry who may have been exempt in the past are less aware of the need and urgency to address the new regulations.
If they are bewildered by these then they may also be unaware of the current health and nutritional claims regulations (Regulation (EC) 1924/2006). In force since 2006, they apply to all labelling and advertising material and regulate the use of nutritional and health terms including very simple well used words and phrases such as healthy, good for you, feel good, nutritious and super food.
Liz Tucker has already worked with a number of food manufacturers and restaurants across the UK.
“Trading Standards do not see ignorance as a defence and are also concerned of a last minute rush stretching their limited staff. As a regulation adviser I have found group seminars can address the majority of issues for smaller producers in the most cost effective way. Therefore I am encouraging regional producers to attend events such as the Select Food seminars in Taunton, Exeter, Truro and Swindon this September before the regulation deadline expires,” she said.