Breakfast foods: Parliament adopts new rules to improve consumer information

Country of origin of honey must be clearly visible on the label

EU honey traceability system to be developed

Clearer labelling on sugar content in fruit juices

New rules also for fruit in jams and marmalades

The revision of the “breakfast directives” aims to help consumers make informed and healthier decisions on products such as honey, fruit juice, jam and marmalades.

Parliament on Wednesday approved the provisional political agreement with Council on updated rules on the composition, name, labelling and presentation of certain 'breakfast' foodstuffs, the so-called “breakfast directives”, with 603 votes in favour, 9 against and 10 abstentions.

In particular, the new rules will combat adulterated honey imports from non-EU countries through obligatory and clearly visible country of origin labelling, and will launch a process to create a honey traceability system. There will also be clearer labelling on sugar content in fruit juices as well as for minimum fruit content in jams and marmalades.

You can read more about the new rules in the press release after the deal with EU countries.

Quote

After the vote, rapporteur Alexander Bernhuber (EPP, Austria) said

"Today we have taken an important step in the labelling of the origin of foodstuffs and adopted strict measures to combat honey fraud. The country of origin must be clearly indicated on the labelling of honey blends. In addition, higher quality standards have been set and the need for an EU traceability system for honey has been identified. These initiatives will ensure that consumers are better informed and that both beekeepers and consumers are better protected against adulterated honey."

Next steps

The law now also has to be adopted by Council, before being published in the EU Official Journal and entering into force 20 days later. EU countries will have apply the new rules two years after entry into force.

Background

The revision of EU marketing standards for certain 'breakfast' directives was proposed by the European Commission on 21 April 2023 to update current standards that are more than 20 years old.