THIS REQUIREMENT IS CURRENTLY IN FORCE

Prenotification of Products of Animal Origin

New requirements: Prenotification of UK Imports on IPAFFs for products originating from the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. 

Products affected: Products of Animal Origin (POAO) Products, Composite Foods, Animal by products, High Risk Foods Not of Animal Origin (HRFNAO) imported into the UK.

Effective date: 1st January 2022.

Links: The Borders with the European Union (page 8)

POAO Under safeguard measures- effective 1st January 2021

Composite Products of Animal Origin- Prenotification criteria

Import Controls by DEFRA

THIS REQUIREMENT IS CURRENTLY IN FORCE

Organic Food and Drinks - EU Regulations 2018/ 848 Legislation and Equivalency agreement requirements

New requirements:

1. According to EU Regulations 2018/ 848: 3rd Countries (applies to the UK) can apply the EU Organic logo voluntarily. Where the choice is made to apply the EU Organic Logo there must be full compliance with EU Labelling Requirements.

2. According to EU Regulations 2018/ 848: Natural Flavourings used in Organic Products must meet minimum composition requirements. A minimum of 95% of the flavouring must originate from the 'natural' source.

3. According to the Trade Cooperation Agreement (TCA) all Organic Products exported to the EU must have undergone final processing in the UK or EU.

Products affected: Organic Food and Drink products produced in the UK and sold in the EU.

Effective date: 1st January 2022.

Links: 1 &2. EU Regulation 2018/ 848 on organic production and labelling of organic products

3. Trade Cooperation Agreement between UK and EU Appendix 14A & 14B, page 1158-1159

DATES OF ENFORCEMENT BEGAN w/c 21st MARCH 2022

UK announces 35% tariff for UK imports of Russian food and drink products

New requirements: A new 35% tariff will be imposed on a range of goods including food and drinks imported into the UK from Russia, on top of existing tariffs.

Products affected (this list is not extensive): Vodka, Oils, Seafood, fish, vinegar, cereals.

Effective date: Week commencing 21st March 2022

Links: Seafood, Vodka & fish, Vinegar, White fish & cereals, DEFRA

Our BREXIT training course is designed to equip you with the knowledge you need to be ready for the new import and export requirements

Titanium Dioxide (E171) Banned for use in EU and NI markets (only)

THIS BAN DOES NOT APPLY TO PRODUCTS SOLD IN THE UK.

Products affected: all food and drink where titanium dioxide is used as an ingredient.

New requirements: Titanium dioxide is banned for use in the EU and NI and cannot be used as an ingredient in food and drink products after 7th August 2022. Products placed on the on the market up until 7th August 2022 can remain on the market until their date of minimum durability has expired.

Effective date: 8th August 2022.

Transition period: 7th February 2022- 7th August 2022. 

Links: COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) 2022/63 Page 4, Article 2

EFSAs Risk Assessment of Titanium Dioxide published in May 2021

Goodbye E171: The EU bans titanium dioxide as a food additive

The Food Standards Agency confirmed Titanium Dioxide ban applies to EU and NI only.

Organic Food and Drinks - Labelling Updates (applies to products produced in, and sold in the UK market only)

New requirements:

1. UK produced Organic Products must apply GB Agricultural Origin Statements to Labelling for products sold in the UK.

2. Organic products must contain a minimum of 95% Organic agricultural raw materials to be labelled as Organic or refer to organic production methods on labelling.

3. References to the region can be applied where the organic raw materials are 98% and above in the finished product. "For example, milk from Northern Ireland can be labelled as ‘Northern Irish Agriculture’, or Welsh lamb can be labelled as ‘Welsh Agriculture’."

Products affected: Organic Food and Drink Labelling produced in the UK, sold in the UK only.

Effective date: 31st December 2023.

Links: Organic food: labelling and advertising rules - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

UPDATE: Restrictions for advertising for volume buying have now been postponed until 2023. Placement restrictions still to be implemented for October 2022

HFSS- High in Fat, Sugar, Sodium Foods sold in the UK

Products affected: Prepacked food and drink in the following categories will be in scope of the restrictions: soft drinks, cakes, chocolate confectionery, sugar confectionery, ice cream, morning goods (for example pastries), puddings, sweet biscuits, breakfast cereals, yoghurts, milk-based drinks with added sugar, juice based drinks with added sugar, pizza, ready meals, meal centres, including breaded and battered products, crisps and savoury snacks, chips and similar potato products.

The restrictions will also apply to free refills of sugar-sweetened drinks in the out-of-home sector (for example restaurants, coffee shops etc).

New requirements:  All foods sold in the UK market with a score of 4 and above, and all drinks with a score 1 and above will be subject to location/ placement restrictions in online or physical stores.

Exemptions for restrictions apply for businesses with less than 50 employees, stores smaller than 200 square feet and that sell one type of food product category.

Effective date: October 2022.

Links: Promotions of unhealthy food restricted from 2022

Consultation Outcome for Restricting Products HFSS by location and Price

The Nutrient Profiling Model

Product placement restrictions still apply for October 2022

Address requirements for Foods Imported into the UK 

New requirement: Imported Foods and Drinks must have a UK address on food labelling for products sold on the UK market.

Effective Date: 1st October 2022.

Transition period: 1st January 2021- 30th September 2022.

Links: Regulations for Food and Feed Safety

Our BREXIT training courses are designed to equip you with the knowledge you need to be ready for the new import and export requirements

Health Mark and Identification Marks for UK Food manufacturers

New requirement: New UK Health Marks and UK Identification Marks must be applied to Food Labels by UK Food Businesses for products sold on the UK market.

Effective Date: 31st December 2022.

Transition period: 1st January 2021- 30th September 2022.

Links: Guidance on health and identification marks that apply from 1 January 2021 | Food Standards Agency

Country of Origin Labelling for UK Food Manufacturers

New requirement: Origin statements for products manufactured and sold in the UK can no longer be described as originating in the EU on food and drink labelling. This change has arisen because the UK is no longer part of the EU. 

Options for wording for single origin and multiple origin for honeys, blends of honey, and minced meats and can be found using this link.

Effective Date: 31st December 2023 (Foods sold in the UK market only)

Foods sold in the EU must be compliant with this requirement.

Links: Food Labelling: Country of Origin

Food Standards: Labelling and Composition

Food labelling: country of origin - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Milk and Milk Products sold in the UK

New requirement: Products intended for sale in the UK must meet compositional requirements laid out in The Spreadable Fats (Marketing Standards) and Milk and Milk Products (Protection of Designations) (England) 2008.

Effective Date: 1st October 2022.

Links: The Food (Amendment and Transitional Provisions) England Regulations 2021

The Spreadable Fats (Marketing Standards) and Milk and Milk Products (Protection of Designations) (England) 2008

Spreadable Fats sold in the UK

New requirement: Products intended for sale in the UK must meet compositional requirements laid out in The Spreadable Fats (Marketing Standards) and Milk and Milk Products (Protection of Designations) (England) 2008.

Effective Date: 1st October 2022.

Links: The Food (Amendment and Transitional Provisions) England Regulations 2021

The Spreadable Fats (Marketing Standards) and Milk and Milk Products (Protection of Designations) (England) 2008

Jam and Similar Products 

New requirement: Products intended for sale in the UK must meet compositional requirements laid out in the The Jam and Similar Products (England) Regulations 2003.

Effective Date: 1st October 2022.

Links: The Food (Amendment and Transitional Provisions) England Regulations 2021.

The Jam and Similar Products (England) Regulations 2003.

Bread and Flour Products

New requirement: Products intended for sale in the UK must meet compositional requirements laid out in the The Bread and Flour Regulations 1998.

Effective Date: 1st October 2022.

Links: The Food (Amendment and Transitional Provisions) England Regulations 2021

The Bread and Flour Regulations 1998

Products Containing Meat Products

New requirement: Products intended for sale in the UK must meet compositional requirements laid out in the The Bread and Flour Regulations 1998.

Effective Date: 1st October 2022.

Links: The Food (Amendment and Transitional Provisions) England Regulations 2021

The Bread and Flour Regulations 1998

Our Horizon Scanning Training gives you an overview of what is changing for the UK market with examples of how to apply the changes

HFSS- High in Fat Sugar Sodium Foods sold in the UK

UPDATE: Advertising restrictions for volume buying to be implemented for 2023

Products affected: Prepacked food and drink in the following categories will be in scope of the restrictions: soft drinks, cakes, chocolate confectionery, sugar confectionery, ice cream, morning goods (for example pastries), puddings, sweet biscuits, breakfast cereals, yoghurts, milk-based drinks with added sugar, juice based drinks with added sugar, pizza, ready meals, meal centres, including breaded and battered products, crisps and savoury snacks, chips and similar potato products.

The restrictions will also apply to free refills of sugar-sweetened drinks in the out-of-home sector (for example restaurants, coffee shops etc).

New requirements: 

All foods sold in the UK market with a score of 4 and above, and all drinks with a score 1 and above will be subject to advertising restrictions.

Exemptions for restrictions apply for businesses with less than 50 employees, stores smaller than 200 square feet and that sell one type of food product category.

Effective date: end 2023.

Links: Promotions of unhealthy food restricted from 2022

Consultation Outcome for Restricting Products HFSS by location and Price

The Nutrient Profiling Model

Advertising for volume buying to be implemented in 2023

Documentation and Border Checks EU to GB Imports of POAO- Phase 1

New requirements: Documentation and Border checks required.

Products affected: Animal by products, Meat and Meat Products, High Risk Foods Not of Animal Origin.

Effective date: end 2023

Links: UK Government Announcement- postponing implementation date to 2023.

The Borders with the European Union (page 8), published December 2021

The Border Operating Model will be updated soon. The link above is for the current version.

Documentation and Border Checks EU to GB Imports of POAO- Phase 2

New requirements: Documentation and Border checks required.

Products affected: Dairy products

Effective date: end 2023.

Links: UK Government Announcement- postponing implementation date

to 2023.

Links: The Borders with the European Union (page 8), published December 2021

The Border Operating Model will be updated soon. The link above is for the current version.

Documentation and Border Checks EU to GB Imports of POAO- Phase 3

New requirements: Documentation and Border checks required.

Products affected: Remaining regulated products of animal origin, including composite and fish products. 

Effective date: end 2023.

Links: UK Government Announcement- postponing implementation date to 2023.

The Borders with the European Union (page 8), published December 2021

The Border Operating Model will be updated soon. The link above is for the current version.

Organic Foods Imported into the UK

Products affected: All organic products imported from the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland to Great Britain.

New requirements- All organic products imported from the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland to Great Britain will require a GB COI. (GB COI- Great Britain Certificate of Inspection).

Effective date: end 2023.

Links: Importing and Exporting Organic Food DEFRA

Last updated: 2nd April 2023

DISCLAIMER:

This page has been provided for information purposes only. Some requirements may be subject to change. It is the responsibility of the Food Business Operator to ensure they comply with the legal requirements. Pack Copy Sent will not be liable for changes made based on the information provided. Please use the links to check the original sources of information to determine the latest status before making changes for your labelling or documentation.