Volume 13, Number
10 - October
2012
Hello from Food
Label News.
This month
we’re off to the EU with a focus on what you need to know
for label compliance in EU markets. You’ll also find a
Food Label News reader favorite: An all encompassing
regulatory guide for label claims. Be sure to check out the
reader Q&A and view
past reader Q&As
online for answers to your labeling and regulatory
questions.
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EU Labeling: What’s New & What To
Do
To get a
product to market in the EU requires much the same process
as is necessary with FDA-regulated foods in the U.S. It is
incumbent upon manufacturers to ensure that product labels
are compliant with all current regulations as there is no
government pre-approval process. Food exporters beware:
regulations for food safety and food labels are rigorously
enforced and penalties can be costly.
There are several challenges with creating food labels for
export to the EU. While the required food label components
for the EU are similar to those of the U.S., the formatting,
placement, and intricacies of the label (font size, spacing,
graphics, ingredient declarations, etc.) are quite different.
In addition, many EU foods have
specific compositional standards which can differ quite
substantially from U.S. standards of identity.
The new
Food Information Regulation is an EU directive binding
for all EU member states who then have to implement it in
national legislation. This will affect virtually every EU
food label. Understanding the nuances is critical to ensure
compliance.
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What's News in the
Food Label Community
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California's Prop 37 for GMO labeling |
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Canada's allergen labeling compliance |
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Do flavor carriers
need to be listed? |
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Serving size for
1oz, 2oz & 3oz cookies? |
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Connect with
other food labelers on LinkedIn |
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Reader Favorites
Is my food USDA or FDA regulated? |
Search for answers
to your food labeling and regulatory
questions |
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How do you reduce your
regulatory risk? Food Consulting Company is pleased to
extend our nutrition, labeling, and regulatory services
beyond North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico) to the EU
markets. Through our partnerships, we can also provide all
of the technical translation services you need.
Contact us
for help to ensure that your food labels are compliant
across all EU countries. |
Regulatory Guide for Label Claims
How do you
showcase a product with no trans fat or 200 mg of
isoflavons when U.S. regulations do not allow nutrient
content claims for either of these food constituents?
By popular
demand we are again sharing the Silliker Nutrient and
Health Claims U.S. and Canadian Regulatory Guide
with technical content provided by Food Consulting
Company. This guide helps food labelers decipher the
regulations regarding nutrient and health claims for
food packages. Be sure to take a look at these
important sections:
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Nutrient content claim
definitions for free and low (page 6)
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Statements of fact (page 9)
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Examples of allowable structure/function claims
(pages 13-14)
Download the
Guide.
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Reader Q&A
Find
answers to our readers'
questions or send us
your question for an
upcoming issue.
Q. |
I know the following statement needs to be on an
imported FDA food product - Product of "X" - but does
it need to be on the Principal Display Panel or can it
be anywhere on the package?
− S.A., Maryland, Consulting Firm |
A. |
When a U.S. company
distributes or imports a product and declares its name
and address within the signature line of the product,
FDA guidance says that the country of origin must appear
in close proximity to the signature line in at least
comparable size lettering. If, however, a foreign
manufacturer is listed within the signature line, then
the country of origin is part of the address and the
words "Product of" can be shown after the signature line
or any other conspicuous place on the label. Read more. |
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What matters in food labeling
Food Label News,
now in its 12th year, is a monthly e-newsletter reaching
over 7,500 subscribers around the world. We
welcome your colleagues to subscribe for news and insights
about food labels:
www.foodlabels.com/subscribe
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Your virtual
food label partner
Food Consulting Company,
founded in 1993, provides nutrition analysis, food labeling,
and regulatory support for more than 1,500 clients worldwide.
Our
guarantee: 100% regulatory compliance.
Contact us
for the help you need now.
You may reprint all or part of this newsletter
provided you attribute it to Food Label News
and include a link to www.foodlabels.com.
© 2012. Food Consulting Company, Del Mar, CA. All rights reserved.
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