The new EU Food Information Regulation (LMIV)

EU Food Information Regulation

The new EU-wide Food Information Regulation (LMIV)

Now it is here, the EU Food Information Regulation (LMIV), valid since 13 December 2014.

From now on, our cheeses are therefore supplemented with the table “Nutritional value” in the cheese description.

Nutritional value of cheese in the Alps Sepp cheese shop
Nutritional value of cheese in the Alps Sepp cheese shop

The background and aim of the EU regulation was and is to prevent the current labelling regulations from being fragmented. First and foremost, the new Regulation therefore brings together existing legislation. At European level, it replaces the previous Labelling Directive 2000/13/EC and the Nutrition Labelling Directive 90/496/EEC.

National provisions which have implemented these directives to date – the Food Labelling Regulation and the Nutrition Labelling Regulation – will lose their effect with the entry into force of the new regulation.

What must be stated on food in the future and what does this mean for our online cheese shop?

Nutrition labelling for food now mandatory

The parliamentarians of the EU agreed on a mandatory nutrition label. This is done in the form of a table per 100 grams or 100 millilitres. Up to now, nutritional information has been largely voluntary.

In all EU countries it is now mandatory to list the calorie content and the six nutrients fat, saturated fatty acids, carbohydrates, sugar, protein and salt on pre-packaged food.

The new, mandatory nutrition labelling must now be presented in a clear table. However, it is up to the manufacturers to decide where this should appear on the packaging.

The allergen labelling is highlighted optically.

Allergens are now subject to more extensive labelling requirements as a result of the Food Information Ordinance.

Previously, allergenic ingredients had to be clearly labelled in the list of ingredients. In future, allergens will also have to be highlighted visually, for example by using a different font or background colour.

The obligation to provide information on allergens now also applies to unpackaged foodstuffs, so-called “loose goods”. However, the manner in which this labelling is to be carried out has yet to be determined by the individual EU Member States. National regulations will then follow.

EU regulations
Mandatory regulations of the EU

Very positive – Marking of origin for meat

Since the year 2000, the labelling of beef origin has been compulsory. In future, this will also be compulsory for pigmeat, sheepmeat, goatmeat and poultrymeat.

The feasibility and usefulness of further rules on origin labelling will only be demonstrated by a so-called “impact assessment” by the European Commission.

This will clarify whether other types of meat and meat as ingredients as well as milk and milk products will also be subject to the labelling obligation in the long term. It also remains to be seen whether the place of birth, rearing or slaughter of the animals or all three of them will be required. The EU Commission must issue concrete implementing regulations within two years.

Very positive – “analogue cheese” and “sticky meat” are easier to recognise

Thanks to special labelling regulations, consumers will be able to recognise so-called food imitations more easily in future!

To protect consumers from consumer deception, products such as analogue cheese must now be labelled with the substance used as a substitute in the immediate vicinity of the product name and in a prominent size.

Meat or fish products which could give the impression that they are a grown piece, but which are made up of smaller pieces (e.g. so-called sticky meat), must in future be clearly identified by the words “made from pieces of meat or fish”.

Maybe still too small? Better legibility due to minimum font size!

All mandatory information must now be clearly and legibly displayed in a clearly visible place with a minimum font size of 1,2 mm.

» Further information from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research

OLD HARD CHEESE
HARD CHEESE
HARD CHEESE

Conclusion on the new LMIV Regulation

The new Food Information Regulation promotes, at first sight at least, the conscientious and honest production of food and thus creates more clarity for the consumer when buying food. To what extent does this lead to complicated and expensive additional burdens for small, regional producers, is an interesting question?

The regulation ensures that the nutritional information on packaging, which has hitherto been largely voluntary, is made uniformly binding throughout the European Union. The information will be more comprehensive and easier to read.

Criticism of the Food Regulation

» freiewelt.net

» unzensuriert.at

» lebensmittelpraxis.de

» deutsche-handwerks-zeitung.de

» mein-allergie-portal.com

» foodwatch.org

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