Labelling of flavourings not intended for sale to the final consumer
1. Flavourings not intended for sale to the final consumer may only be marketed with the labelling provided for in Articles 15 and 16, which must be easily visible, clearly legible and indelible. The information provided for in Article 15 shall be in a language easily understandable to purchasers.
2. Within its own territory, the Member State in which the product is marketed may, in accordance with the Treaty, stipulate that the information provided for in Article 15 shall be given in one or more of the official languages of the Community, to be determined by that Member State. This shall not preclude such information from being indicated in several languages.
General labelling requirements for flavourings not intended for sale to the final consumer
1. Where flavourings not intended for sale to the final consumer are sold singly or mixed with each other and/or with other food ingredients and/or with other substances added to them in accordance with Article 3(4), their packaging or containers shall bear the following information:
(a)
the sales description: either the word ‘flavouring’ or a more specific name or description of the flavouring;
(b)
the statement either ‘for food’ or the statement ‘restricted use in food’ or a more specific reference to its intended food use;
(c)
if necessary, the special conditions for storage and/or use;
(d)
a mark identifying the batch or lot;
(e)
in descending order of weight, a list of:
(i)
the categories of flavourings present and
(ii)
the names of each of the other substances or materials in the product or, where appropriate, their E-number;
(f)
the name or business name and address of the manufacturer, packager or seller;
(g)
an indication of the maximum quantity of each component or group of components subject to quantitative limitation in food and/or appropriate information in clear and easily understandable terms enabling the purchaser to comply with this Regulation or other relevant Community law;
(h)
the net quantity;
(i)
a date of minimum durability or use-by-date;
(j)
where relevant, information on a flavouring or other substances referred to in this Article and listed in Annex IIIa to Directive 2000/13/EC as regards the indication of the ingredients present in foodstuffs.
2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, the information required in points (e) and (g) of that paragraph may appear merely on the documents relating to the consignment which are to be supplied with or prior to the delivery, provided that the indication ‘not for retail sale’ appears on an easily visible part of the packaging or container of the product in question.
3. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, where flavourings are supplied in tankers, all of the information may appear merely on the accompanying documents relating to the consignment which are to be supplied with the delivery.
Specific requirements for use of the term ‘natural’
1. If the term ‘natural’ is used to describe a flavouring in the sales description referred to in Article 15(1)(a) the provisions of paragraphs 2 to 6 of this Article shall apply.
2. The term ‘natural’ for the description of a flavouring may only be used if the flavouring component comprises only flavouring preparations and/or natural flavouring substances.
3. The term ‘natural flavouring substance(s)’ may only be used for flavourings in which the flavouring component contains exclusively natural flavouring substances.
4. The term ‘natural’ may only be used in combination with a reference to a food, food category or a vegetable or animal flavouring source if the flavouring component has been obtained exclusively or by at least 95 % by w/w from the source material referred to.
The description shall read ‘natural “food(s) or food category or source(s)” flavouring’.
5. The term ‘natural “food(s) or food category or source(s)” flavouring with other natural flavourings’ may only be used if the flavouring component is partially derived from the source material referred to, the flavour of which can easily be recognised.
6. The term ‘natural flavouring’ may only be used if the flavouring component is derived from different source materials and where a reference to the source materials would not reflect their flavour or taste.
Labelling of flavourings intended for sale to the final consumer
1. Without prejudice to Directive 2000/13/EC, Council Directive 89/396/EEC of 14 June 1989 on indications or marks identifying the lot to which a foodstuff belongs ( 18 ) and Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003, flavourings sold singly or mixed with each other and/or with other food ingredients and/or to which other substances are added and which are intended for sale to the final consumer may be marketed only if their packaging contains the statement either ‘for food’ or ‘restricted use in food’ or a more specific reference to their intended food use, which must be easily visible, clearly legible and indelible.
2. If the term ‘natural’ is used to describe a flavouring in the sales description referred to in Article 15(1)(a), Article 16 shall apply.
Other labelling requirements
Articles 14 to 17 shall be without prejudice to more detailed or more extensive laws, regulations or administrative provisions regarding weights and measures or applying to the presentation, classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances and preparations or applying to the transport of such substances and preparations.
Source: EUR-Lex (Publications Office of the EU), © European Union, reuse permitted under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU.
