Meet food safety requirements for your business
- 1 step
Retained EU Law
2011
United Kingdom
Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
24 compliance obligations, 1 practical guide · 1 journey
Penalty landscape
10 of 24 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 14 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Trader 14
- Operator 5
- Manufacturer 4
Plus 1 non-business duty on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Step-by-step journeys using this legislation
Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Supporting — topic alignment
1 guidesOther Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Traders also bound by 826 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 1995 413 duties
- Companies Act 2006 2006 243 duties
- The Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 2008 114 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 62 duties
- Building Societies Act 1986 1986 56 duties
Operators also bound by 730 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 (Air Operations) 2012 138 duties
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2066 of 19 December 2018 on the monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and amending Commission Regulation (EU) No 601/2012 (Text with EEA relevance) 2018 121 duties
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 601/2012 of 21 June 2012 on the monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (Text with EEA relevance) (repealed) 2012 112 duties
- Space Industry Regulations 2021 2021 75 duties
- Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health (‘Animal Health Law’) (Text with EEA relevance) 2016 66 duties
Manufacturers also bound by 472 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 2016 91 duties
- Lifts Regulations 2016 2016 70 duties
- The Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information Regulations 2021 2021 70 duties
- Non-Automatic Weighing Instruments Regulations 2016 2016 67 duties
- Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015 2015 64 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
General objectives
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Crown must consult and provide transition periods for new food label rules Crown / Minister / Government department
Principles governing mandatory food information
Unlimited fine- Ensure mandatory food information meets statutory principles Trader
Basic requirement
Unlimited fine- Provide mandatory food information with all food supplies Trader
Responsibilities
- Ensure accuracy and compliance of food information Operator
Additional mandatory particulars for specific types or categories of foods
- Check for additional mandatory labeling requirements for specific food types Trader
Availability and placement of mandatory food information
- Ensure food information is accessible and placed correctly Trader
Presentation of mandatory particulars
- Present mandatory food information clearly and legibly on packaging Operator
Language requirements
- Ensure mandatory food information is provided in English Trader
List of ingredients
Unlimited fine- Provide a clear and accurate list of ingredients on food products Manufacturer
Labelling of certain substances or products causing allergies or intolerances
- Highlight allergens clearly in food ingredient lists Trader
Quantitative indication of ingredients
- Label the percentage of key ingredients in food products (QUID) Manufacturer
Net quantity
Unlimited fine- Label food net quantity using metric mass or volume units Trader
Minimum durability date, ‘use by’ date and date of freezing
- Use correct 'use by' or 'best before' dates on food labels Operator
Storage conditions or conditions of use
Unlimited fine- Provide food storage and usage instructions on labels Trader
Country of origin or place of provenance
Unlimited fine- Correctly label the country of origin on food products Trader
Instructions for use
- Provide clear instructions for use on food labelling Trader
Content
Unlimited fine- Provide mandatory nutrition information on food labels Manufacturer
Expression per 100 g or per 100 ml
Unlimited fine- Display nutrition information per 100g or 100ml Trader
Presentation
- Ensure nutrition information is presented clearly and in the correct layout Manufacturer
Additional forms of expression and presentation
- Ensure additional nutrition symbols meet scientific and clarity standards Operator
Applicable requirements
- Ensure voluntary food information is accurate and evidence-based Operator
Presentation
Unlimited fine- Ensure voluntary food labels do not crowd out mandatory information Trader
National measures for non-prepacked food
Unlimited fine- Provide allergen information for non-prepacked food Trader
Transitional measures
- Use up old food stock that does not meet newer labelling rules Trader
Browse 82 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement
uri:annex/ix/division/3
uri:annex/ix/division/5
uri:annex/viii/division/4
uri:annex/vii/part/b
uri:annex/vii/part/c
uri:annex/vii/part/d/division/1
uri:annex/vii/part/d/division/3
uri:annex/vi/part/a/division/1
uri:annex/vi/part/a/division/2
uri:annex/vi/part/a/division/3
uri:annex/vi/part/a/division/4
uri:annex/vi/part/a/division/5
uri:annex/vi/part/a/division/6
uri:annex/vi/part/a/division/7
uri:annex/vi/part/b/division/2
uri:annex/vi/part/c
uri:annex/x/division/1
uri:annex/x/division/2
uri:annex/x/division/3
uri:annex/xii
Subject matter and scope
Definitions
Consultation of the European Food Safety Authority
Fair information practices
List of mandatory particulars
Weights and measures
Distance selling
Omission of certain mandatory particulars
TYPE D REGULATIONS: LIST OF SPECIFIED PROVISIONS
Omission of the list of ingredients
Omission of constituents of food from the list of ingredients
Alcoholic strength
Relationship with other legislation
Calculation
Expression on a per portion basis or per consumption unit
Subordinate legislation
National measures on additional mandatory particulars
Milk and milk products
Alcoholic beverages
Expression of the net quantity
Voluntary indication of reference intakes for specific population groups
Notification procedure
Amendments to the Annexes
Transitional period for and date of application of implementing measures or delegated acts
Committee
Amendments to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006
Amendments to Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006
Type C regulations: general
Urgency procedure
Repeal
Entry into force and date of application
ALCOHOLIC STRENGTH
‘nutrition declaration’ or ‘nutrition labelling’ means information stating the: energy...
x-HEIGHT
The actual alcoholic strength by volume of beverages containing more...
The alcoholic strength shall be determined at 20 °C.
Positive and negative allowed tolerances in respect of the indication...
Description of beverage Positive or negative tolerance 1. Beers of...
The energy value to be declared shall be calculated using...
— carbohydrate (except polyols), 17 kJ/g — 4 kcal/g —...
The units of measurement to be used in the nutrition...
energy kJ/kcal fat g of which — saturates, g —...
Name of the food
CONVERSION FACTORS
DATE OF MINIMUM DURABILITY, ‘USE BY’ DATE AND DATE OF FREEZING
DEFINITION OF x-HEIGHT
EXPRESSION AND PRESENTATION OF NUTRITION DECLARATION
FOODS FOR WHICH THE LABELLING MUST INCLUDE ONE OR MORE ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS
FOODS WHICH ARE EXEMPTED FROM THE REQUIREMENT OF THE MANDATORY NUTRITION DECLARATION
INDICATION AND DESIGNATION OF INGREDIENTS
NAME OF THE FOOD AND SPECIFIC ACCOMPANYING PARTICULARS
NET QUANTITY DECLARATION
QUANTITATIVE INDICATION OF INGREDIENTS
REFERENCE INTAKES
SPECIFIC DEFINITIONS
SUBSTANCES OR PRODUCTS CAUSING ALLERGIES OR INTOLERANCES
Type C and D Regulations: the Scottish Ministers
Type C and D regulations: the Welsh Ministers
Type C, D and E regulations: the Secretary of State
Type D regulations: general
Type E regulations: general
TYPES OF MEAT FOR WHICH THE INDICATION OF THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN OR PLACE OF PROVENANCE IS MANDATORY
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- Allergen Information for Non-Prepacked Foods Best Practice - GOV.UK (opens in a new tab) from FSA Detailed Guidance
- Starting a food business checklist | Food Standards Scotland (opens in a new tab) from Food Standards Scotland Detailed Guidance
- Potential fish decontamination treatments | Food Standards Scotland (opens in a new tab) from Food Standards Scotland Detailed Guidance
- Nutrition declarations | Food Standards Scotland (opens in a new tab) from Food Standards Scotland Detailed Guidance
- Managing allergens | Food Standards Scotland (opens in a new tab) from Food Standards Scotland Detailed Guidance
- Cell-cultivated products | Food Standards Scotland (opens in a new tab) from Food Standards Scotland Detailed Guidance
- Food Standards Agency: food contact materials (opens in a new tab) from FSA Detailed Guidance
- Natasha's Law guidance (opens in a new tab) from FSA Detailed Guidance
- Allergen guidance for food businesses (opens in a new tab) from FSA Detailed Guidance
- Food Standards Scotland (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
FSA
PrimaryFood Standards Agency
Food safety and hygiene regulation across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Enforces food law, provides guidance to food businesses, investigates incidents. Approves …
Food safety and standards in Scotland. Independent public body with similar remit to FSA but for Scotland specifically. Administers Food Hygiene Information …
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Browse legislation
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Regulators
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