Last Updated on May 1, 2023 by Thomas Bolwell
What labelling changes must EU and UK food businesses consider for Brexit?
All products placed on the market before 1 January 2021 can continue to be sold, distributed or transferred in the EU (or UK) without labelling changes. Once on the market however, these may be sold until stock is exhausted but can no longer be placed on the market after this date; this includes the transfer of products already on the market where, for example, re-labelling will be required if you transfer products from the UK market to the EU market after transition. For products sold on the GB (England, Scotland, Wales) market, additional adjustment periods have also been issued. Sound tricky? It is, follow our quick guide below or contact a member of our sales team at sales@label-craft.com. The information here can change rapidly so please do refer to Government Issued guidelines on the topic.
- Food Business Operator (FBO) Address
Currently, it is mandatory to provide an address of the responsible FBO on pre-packaged product labels; the FBO needs to be established in the EU (as per regulation (EU) No 1169/2011). As the UK will no longer be part of the EU, a UK address will no longer be suitable for UK origin products being sold in EU member states. Likewise, an EU address will not be applicable for EU origin products for sale in the UK market.
The label of pre-packaged foods must include an address for the FBO in the intended market. If the UK based FBO is not established in the EU, the name and address of the EU importer must be indicated and vice versa. This is the main labelling change that will affect all food businesses exporting goods to the EU or UK. It is also a change which has sparked many questions within the industry around the acceptability of addresses.
- EU Organic Logo
Unless there is an equivalency agreement from 1 January 2021 organic food or feed may not be sold in the EU labelled as organic. The EU organics logo cannot be used on label for products produced in GB; NI can continue to use the logo for the products they sell into the EU market. In contrast, all EU organic food and feed products will continue to be accepted into the GB market.
For products produced and sold in GB, you can continue to use your approved UK control body logo; you must change the statement of agriculture to ‘UK agriculture’ or ‘UK and non-UK agriculture’.
For continued market access, please consult your UK control body to identify if they are authorised by the EU to certify UK organic produce for export to the EU market after 31 Dec 2020.
- EU Health and Identification Marks
From 1 Jan 2021 (and not before), the current ‘EC’ health and identification marks will be replaced for UK products of animal origin (POAO). Products placed on the market prior to the end of transition can remain on the market it was placed post-transition; If a product is placed on the GB market before transition end with current marks, it must reach an end-consumer within the UK market; it cannot be moved to the EU market after transition unless it is relabelled accordingly. If placed on the NI market it can reach the end consumer in either the UK or EU markets.
A period of adjustment until September 30, 2022 will be available to UK food businesses for POAO placed on the market in Great Britain. It is not applicable to POAO produced in Great Britain and Northern Ireland for placing on the EU or non-EU markets. For these markets’ products placed after 1 January 2021 will require re-labelling.
New UK health identification marks have been issued and incorporate ‘GB’ and in some cases ‘UK’ in place of the ‘EC’. The Food Standards Agency have issued guidance on the use of the new logos.
- Country of Origin Labelling (CoOL)
From 1 Jan 2021 food produced in GB and sold in the EU must not be labelled as ‘EU origin’. Food produced and sold in NI can continue to use ‘origin EU’.
Food produced and sold in GB can continue to be labelled with ‘EU origin’ until 30 September 2022. After this date the label must change to reflect GB origin.
There are nuances for different food categories:
Minced Meat
Sold in NI: Can refer to EU and non-EU where label does not list each country of origin.
Sold in GB: Can refer to EU and non-EU until 30 September 2022; from 1 October 2022 references to EU must be changed to UK when the label does not list each country of origin. For example, ‘origin EU and non-EU’ must change to ‘origin UK and non-UK’.
Fruit and Vegetables
Sold in NI: Can refer to EU and Non-EU
Sold in GB: References to the EU must be replaced with UK on the label for mixes of UK fruit and vegetables from 1 October 2022. For example, ‘a mix of EU and non-EU origin’ changes to ‘a mix of UK and non-UK origin’. Approved Trader Scheme EU emblem must be changed to GB version from 1 January 2021.
Olive Oil
Sold in NI: Can continue to refer to ‘EU and non-EU’ when no country-of-origin list is provided.
Sold in GB: From 1 October 2022 you cannot use the term ‘blend of EU and non-EU’. The label must contain one of the following:
- Each country of origin must be listed on the label
- The statement ‘blend of olive oils from more than one country’ (or similar wording)
- The name of the trading bloc to which a regional trade agreement applies, for example ‘blend of olive oils of European Union origin’
Honey Blends
Sold in NI: If you are not labelling with a list of origins and choose alternative wording this statement must reflect the GB is no longer a part of the EU.
- For a honey blend from EU member states = ‘Blend of EU honeys’
- For a blend from countries outside the EU such as GB = ‘Blend of non-EU honeys’
- For a blend from EU member states and non-EU member States such as GB = ‘Blend of EU and non-EU honeys’
These same terms can be used in England and Wales until 30 September 2022 remembering that where an English and French produced honey was once a ‘blend of EU honeys’, this will now be a ‘blend of EU and Non-EU honeys. From 1 October 2022 you must use ‘blend of honeys from more than one country’ (or similar wording) if you decide not to list each country of origin.
Sold in Scotland: From 1 January 2021, origin labelling may include
- ‘Blend of honeys from more than one country’ (or similar wording)
- Reference to the trading bloc of the countries of origin for example ‘blend of EU honeys’
Beef and Veal
Sold in NI: Can continue to refer to ‘origin non-EU’ if the full individual country information is not available.
Sold in GB: If the animal that beef or veal came from was born, reared or slaughtered outside of the UK, the label must state ‘Origin: non-UK’ from 1 October 2022. Until this date you can continue to use origin ‘non-EU’.
‘Live import into the EC’ must be replaced with ‘beef from a live import into the UK’ where the country of origin of the animal is not known.
Eggs
Sold in NI: Eggs that do not meet EU egg trade regulations must be labelled as ‘Non-EC standard’.
Sold in GB: Eggs that do not meet UK domestic egg trade regulations must be labelled as ‘Non-UK standard’ rather than ‘Non-EC standard’ from 1 October 2022. Until this date either label can be used.
- Geographical Indication (GI) Logos
The authenticity of specific products and traditional specialities that have unique characteristics related to their geographical origin are protected under the EU GI scheme; however, EU protection laws will no longer apply to new UK related GI products.
The UK has set up its own GI schemes which will be implemented from 1 January 2021. All existing UK and Irish registered GI products will remain protected under the new UK schemes as well as the EU schemes.
New registrations from GB producers must secure protection under the UK schemes before applying for the EU schemes; NI do not need to secure protection under the EU schemes before applying to the UK schemes.
Logos
UK produced GI-protected food and drinks, except wines and spirits, must use the relevant new UK logo. The logo use is optional for GI-protected wine or spirits. Producers or retailers registered before 1 January 2021 have until 1 January 2024 to make the changes. The EU logo may continue to be used on label alongside the UK logos going forward for products that are protected under the EU scheme as well.
In NI it is mandatory to use EU logos if the product is registered under the EU GI schemes and optional to use the new UK GI logos if the product is registered under these.
Simplified:
Place of sale: GB = Requires UK GI registration and logo; optional EU registration and use of logo (if protected in the EU).
Place of sale: EU = Requires EU GI registration and logo.
Place of sale: NI = Requires EU GI registration and logo, optional use of UK registration and logo.
Existing UK (including NI) products = Remain protected under current EU law and new UK law.
New GB produced products = Registration must be secured in the UK first, before registration under EU law.
New NI produced products = Do not have to secure EU registration before UK registration for sale in GB.
- EU Emblem
From 1 January 2021, foods produced in GB (England, Scotland, Wales) must not display the EU emblem unless use has been authorised by the EU.
