Clear information accompanying food products is crucial for consumers as, together with labelling, it helps us make informed choices on safety and nutritional aspects.

Legislation concerning food labelling and advertising has evolved both at national and EU levels. The Food Information to Consumers (FIC) regulation – Regulation (EC) No.1169/2011 – modifies and repeals existing food labelling EU legislation, particularly EU Directive 2000/13/EC.

The Maltese labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs regulations and its amendments are a transposition of Directive 2000/13/EC.

The FIC Regulations became applicable from December 13, 2014, with the exception of the requirements on nutritional declaration, which will apply as from December 13, 2016. Until then, nutritional declarations are voluntary unless nutritional claims are made according to information accompanying a particular foodstuff.

However, there is no actual change in the fundamental principles of providing safe food that is factually described and not given in a misleading way. Foods cannot be labelled to state that they will prevent, treat or cure a human disease or condition.

The FIC regulations consolidate requirements of previous legislation with new provisions. In a nutshell, a food product made available to consumers must be accompanied by mandatory information including: name or description of the food; an ingredient list in descending weight order; information on certain food causing allergies or intolerances used in the manufacture or preparation of a food; a date of minimum durability; and name of business and address of food business operator established in the European community under whose name it is being marketed.

This is not an exhaustive list of information but only important points that need to be included on food products for sale.

FIC covers a vast number of aspects and it is not the intent of this article to enter into details and spell out all its provisions.

In fact, the above is just an overview of the main points of this regulation. The information can never be considered as a replacement or amendment of the legal text of the applicable legislation.

For more detailed information, call the Environmental Health Directorate on 2133 7333 or e-mail mhi@gov.mt or call the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority on 2395 2000, e-mail info@mccaa.org.mt or visit the EU Commission website at http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/labellingnutrition/foodlabelling/index_en.htm .