EU food labelling rules, including language requirements

The European Union has one of the most detailed food labelling systems in the world, built around Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers, often called the FIC Regulation. It applies in all 27 member states, with some national additions. This guide explains the mandatory information, the minimum font size, allergen rules and the language requirements that catch out many exporters.

It is a practical summary for brands and designers, not legal advice. Some food categories, such as wine, organic food, food supplements and foods for specific groups, have additional rules. The full Regulation and the European Commission's guidance, linked below, are the official references.

Who is responsible

The FIC Regulation places responsibility for food information on the food business operator (FBO) under whose name the food is marketed or, if that operator is not established in the EU, the importer into the EU. That operator's name and address must appear on the label. If you are exporting to the EU from outside, you will need an EU-based operator, usually your importer or distributor.

The mandatory particulars

Article 9 of the FIC Regulation lists the information that must appear on most prepacked foods:

1. The name of the food: its legal name, or a customary or descriptive name. Trade marks or brand names cannot replace it.
2. The list of ingredients, headed by a word including "ingredients", in descending order of weight at the time of manufacture.
3. Allergens: any of the 14 listed allergens, or products derived from them, used in the food, emphasised in the ingredient list.
4. Quantity of certain ingredients (QUID), as a percentage, when an ingredient appears in the name, is emphasised in words or images, or is essential to characterise the food.
5. Net quantity in metric units.
6. Date of minimum durability ("best before") or "use by" date.
7. Special storage conditions and/or conditions of use.
8. Name or business name and address of the responsible food business operator.
9. Country of origin or place of provenance, where required, including when omission could mislead and for certain foods such as fresh meat, honey, olive oil and fruit and vegetables.
10. Instructions for use where it would be difficult to use the food appropriately without them.
11. Actual alcoholic strength by volume for beverages containing more than 1.2% alcohol.
12. A nutrition declaration for most prepacked foods.

Same field of vision

The name of the food, the net quantity and, for drinks, the alcoholic strength must appear in the same field of vision, so they can be read together without turning the pack.

Minimum font size

Mandatory particulars must be printed in a font with an x-height of at least 1.2 mm. If the largest surface of the package is less than 80 cm², the minimum x-height is 0.9 mm. The x-height is the height of a lowercase "x" in the chosen font, not the nominal point size.

Information must also be clearly legible, with sufficient contrast between print and background, and must not be hidden, obscured or interrupted by other written or pictorial matter.

Allergens

The 14 allergens listed in Annex II of the Regulation are:

• cereals containing gluten (wheat, rye, barley, oats and their hybrids)
• crustaceans
• eggs
• fish
• peanuts
• soybeans
• milk (including lactose)
• nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, pecans, Brazil nuts, pistachios, macadamias)
• celery
• mustard
• sesame seeds
• sulphur dioxide and sulphites above 10 mg/kg or 10 mg/litre
• lupin
• molluscs

Allergens must be emphasised in the ingredient list through a typeset that clearly distinguishes them from the rest of the list, for example by font, style or background colour. Bold type is the most common approach. If there is no ingredient list, the word "Contains" followed by the allergen is used.

Precautionary statements such as "may contain" are not covered by the FIC Regulation's mandatory rules but must not mislead.

The nutrition declaration

The mandatory nutrition declaration includes, per 100 g or 100 ml:

• energy (kJ and kcal)
• fat
• saturates
• carbohydrate
• sugars
• protein
• salt

It may be supplemented with certain other nutrients, such as fibre, vitamins and minerals. It is usually presented in a table, or in a linear format if space is short. Values can also be given per portion, alongside the per 100 g or ml values.

Some foods are exempt from the nutrition declaration, including certain unprocessed products, waters, herbs and spices, and food in very small packages (largest surface under 25 cm²). Check Annex V of the Regulation.

Language requirements

This is where many exporters run into trouble. The FIC Regulation requires mandatory food information to be in a language easily understood by consumers of the member state where the food is marketed. In addition, member states can require that information be given in one or more of the official languages of the EU in their territory.

In practice:

• Most member states require their national language or languages. For example, food sold in France needs French, in Germany German, and in Belgium usually French and Dutch (and German in some areas).
• English alone is generally not enough outside Ireland and Malta.
• Multi-language labels are allowed, and are common for products sold across several countries.

Planning multi-language labels early is essential. Each language adds text, and the minimum font size still applies.

Strategies for multi-language labels

• Group markets by language and produce a few label versions rather than one label for all.
• Use icons and numbers where appropriate, such as storage symbols, to reduce text.
• Use stickers for small export volumes, applied by your importer, if the rules and your retailer allow.
• Use extended content labels (peel-back or booklet labels) on small containers.

Food supplements

Food supplements in the EU follow Directive 2002/46/EC in addition to the FIC Regulation. Labels must include the names of the categories of nutrients or substances, the recommended daily dose, warnings about not exceeding the dose, a statement that supplements should not replace a varied diet, and a statement to keep out of reach of young children. They use a different nutrient table from the standard nutrition declaration.

Designing an EU food label

1. Confirm the markets and their language requirements.
2. Write and translate all mandatory text with your food technologist and translators. Use professional translators familiar with food terminology.
3. Measure the panels from your dieline and calculate the space each language block needs at 1.2 mm x-height (or 0.9 mm for small packs).
4. Keep the name, net quantity and alcoholic strength in the same field of vision.
5. Emphasise allergens consistently in every language.
6. Proof at actual size and have native speakers check each language.

Common EU food label mistakes

• English-only labels for products sold in non-English-speaking member states.
• Allergens not emphasised in every language version of the ingredient list.
• Nutrition per serving only, without the mandatory per 100 g or 100 ml values.
• Font too small once several languages are added, with an x-height below 1.2 mm.
• No EU operator address on products imported from outside the EU.
• Missing QUID for an ingredient named in the product name, such as the percentage of strawberries in "strawberry yogurt".
• Name of the food replaced by the brand name. A fanciful brand name is not a substitute for the name of the food.
• "Best before" used for perishable foods that need a "use by" date.

Northern Ireland and the UK

Food sold in Northern Ireland continues to follow EU food labelling rules under the Windsor Framework, while Great Britain follows UK rules. The rules are still very similar, but there are differences in the address required and in some specific labelling rules for goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. If you sell in both the EU and the UK, see our guide to UK packaging and labelling requirements.

How we help

We design food packaging and labels for EU and international brands and make printed and rigid boxes in our own factory. We lay out the mandatory information and translations you supply at the correct minimum sizes and plan multi-language panels so they stay legible. We do not write or translate legal text or confirm compliance; final regulatory review stays with you and your importer or adviser.

See our food packaging design and label design services, or get a free quote for your EU range.

Official sources

• EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on food information to consumers
• European Commission: Food labelling, general rules
• Your Europe: Food labelling for businesses

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Questions

What is the minimum font size on EU food labels?

Mandatory information must have an x-height of at least 1.2 mm, or 0.9 mm if the largest surface of the pack is less than 80 cm².

Which language must an EU food label use?

A language easily understood by consumers in the country where the food is sold. Member states can require one or more of their official languages.

How must allergens be shown?

Listed in the ingredient list and emphasised, for example in bold, so they stand out from the other ingredients.

Does the label need an EU address?

The name and address of the food business operator responsible for the information must appear. For imports this is the importer or another operator established in the EU.