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Food Label Legislation: Requirements, Regulations and Translations Explained

Food labelling legislation defines the mandatory requirements for food labels, including ingredients, allergens, nutritional information and translation rules. As regulations vary by country, businesses must adapt labels to meet local legal, and language requirements. This article answers common questions about labelling and adapting for different markets.

Food labelling legislation FAQs: Expert guidance for regulatory compliance

What information is legally required on a food label?

A legally compliant food label must include several key details presented clearly for consumers. These typically include the product’s legal name, a full nutrition panel, a complete ingredient list and explicit allergen declarations. Labels must also state the country of origin and the product’s net weight. Depending on the country, additional requirements may apply, such as recycling symbols, mandated font sizes, or rules about where specific information must appear on the packaging.

What does it take to adapt food labels for international markets?

Food label adaptations might include anything from the type of information included to the position of information on packaging, and even the font size. It’s also important to continually monitor countries for regulatory updates and changes, which might require recipes to be reformulated and labels to be amended accordingly.

Interpreting changes can be challenging, but our experts can help you unravel complexities, understand exactly how they apply to your business, and what you need to do to achieve and maintain compliance.

What legislation regulates allergen labelling on food products?

The legislation and food standards vary depending on the region. You can get in touch with our regional experts to find out which food legislation applies to you.

Why NSF for food labelling support?

NSF brings over 80 years of trusted expertise in food safety, testing, auditing and certification. Our specialists work globally to support food businesses of all sizes comply with regulations with confidence and credibility.

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