Brexit food labelling deadline looms for food manufacturers

Food manufacturers will have to make changes to the way they label products at the start of next year.

Food producers, manufacturers and retailers are being warned to prepare for new requirements for food labelling coming into force on 1 January 2021.

The changes are necessary to reflect the fact that the UK is no longer a member of the EU.

Responding to industry concerns over the scramble to comply with the new rules in time for transition on 1 January, the UK Government recently revised its guidance for the labelling of food produced and sold in Great Britain^* and food imported from the EU. The new guidance extends the original 1 January deadline for the labelling changes to 30 September 2022.  

This will come as welcomed news for any food business producing and selling in Great Britain because existing ‘origin EU’ wording on labels can continue to be used until September 2022. Similarly, for this extended grace period, labels on food imported from the EU can continue to include an EU, rather than a UK, address.

However, for food and beverage exporters, the clock is still ticking. Amy Peacey, a senior associate in the commercial team at national law firm, Clarke Willmott LLP, said: “So far, the EU has not updated its guidance and, consequently, new labelling rules will apply to food exported from Great Britain from 1 January 2021. From this date, exporters will need to have in place new packaging compliant with EU regulations in order to sell their goods legally to customers in the EU.

“There is a limited exception for food products placed on the market before January 2021 which can continue to be sold, distributed or transferred in the EU without labelling changes until stocks are exhausted.”

So, what does this mean in practice for any business intending to export food or beverages from Great Britain to the EU?

From 1 January 2021 food exported to the EU must follow these requirements:

• Food and drink products may not use any EU emblems or markings on their labels
• UK food must not be labelled as origin EU from 1 January 2021
• The address of an EU importer or food business operator will be required on labels of pre-packaged food.

In addition, producers of organic food products face export restrictions and other labelling requirements until such time as the EU approves the UK’s organic food regulatory regime. If the UK does not achieve recognition equivalency from the EU, exporters of organic food will not be able to export organic food or feed to the EU from 1 January 2021.

Peacey acknowledged the difficulties the change in regulations could pose for the industry: “This transition period is a challenging time for food manufacturers who need to be compliant with new labelling rules and alert to the different requirements depending on where their goods are to be sold. If you are a food manufacturer and are unsure of what is required, I recommend looking at the Government website for guidance or talking to a specialist lawyer who can help.”

*Producers in Northern Ireland will not follow the specific food labelling rules applicable in the rest of Great Britain but will continue to follow food labelling rules applicable in the EU.