of amended Directive 79/112/EEC on the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs provides in particular that the outside packaging of pre-packaged foodstuffs marketed prior to their sale to the ultimate consumer or intended for restaurants, hospitals and other similar mass caterers must carry at least the particulars provided for in subparagraphs (1), (4) and (6) of Article 3 (1) and, where appropriate, in Article 9a. The compulsory particulars are: the name under which the product is sold, the date of minimum durability or, for highly perishable foodstuffs, the date preceded by the words 'use before' followed by a description of the storage conditions, the name or business name and address of the manufacturer or packager, or of a seller established within the Community.
The other labelling particulars provided for by Directive 79/112/EEC may be given only on the trade documents either accompanying the foodstuffs, or sent in advance of or at the same time as the delivery.
The presence of the minimum requirements relating to name, date, and the name or business name and address of the manufacturer, packager or seller established within the Community is essential to ensure that the product presented to the ultimate consumer is labelled in accordance with Directive 79/112/EEC, which is aimed at protecting and informing consumers.
Checks by customs authorities on the presence of such compulsory particulars may be summed up as follows:
- they should take into account the provisions of Directive 79/112/EEC, in particular those relating to the name of the product, the date, and the name of the person responsible for marketing it, and the exemptions provided for (e.g. Article 9 (6) on waiving of the date requirement);
- checks should be made only on pre-packaged goods intended for the ultimate consumer (a 'pre-packaged foodstuff' within the meaning of the definition in Article 1 (3) (b) need not carry all the labelling information provided for by Directive 79/12/EEC if the abovementioned minimum compulsory particulars appear on the outside packaging).
(1) OJ No L 187, 16. 7. 1988, p. 1.
(2) OJ No L 147, 9. 6. 1975, p. 13.
(3) OJ No L 317, 6. 11. 1981, p. 1.
(4) OJ No L 33, 8. 2. 1979, p. 1.