There have been various updates to food and drink labelling rules since we last wrote about them (see our article Updated marking, labelling and marketing standards) but the main updates in relation to food placed on the UK market are as follows:

  • The use of an EU or Northern Ireland address of a food business on the label will continue to be allowed in the UK until 30 September 2022 for imported food from the EU or Northern Ireland. After that a UK address will be required.
  • Food from the UK and sold in the UK can still be labelled as 'origin EU' until 30 September 2022. This is not the case for food sold in the EU.
  • Food businesses with Geographical Indications (GI) products registered before 1 January 2021, will have until 1 January 2024 to change their packaging and marketing materials to display the new UK GI label. The UK GI logo will be mandatory for UK products registered from 1 January 2021 onwards.
  • The EU emblem must not be used on goods produced in the UK from 1 January 2021 unless authorisation from the EU has been obtained.
  • The UK and the EU have now recognised each other as equivalent in relation to organic foods until 31 December 2023. This means that UK organic businesses will be able to export goods to the EU and retain the option to use the EU organic logo if they wish. If the EU organic logo is used for UK exports to the EU, both the UK statement of agriculture ('UK or non-UK Agriculture') and the EU statement of agriculture ('EU or non-EU Agriculture') will need to be used.

WM comment

This is a very detailed area of regulation. If you are in any doubt as to what is required please give one of the Food & Drink team a call.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.