Does food or additives which contain traces of allergens have to be labelled?

Bruno DUFAY, France, Metropolitan

EU legislation has recently been modified. The new EU Directive 2003/89/EC on the indication of the ingredients present in foodstuffs (amending Directive 2000/13/EC) entered into force on 25 November 2003. According to Annex IIIa of Directive 2000/13/EC is a list of potential allergens that have to be labeled if they are used as ingredients in pre-packed foods, including alcoholic drinks, regardless of their quantity. The allergens include cereals containing gluten, fish, crustaceans, eggs, peanuts, soy, milk and dairy products including lactose, nuts, celery, mustard, sesame seed, and sulphites. This list of allergenic food ingredients will be re-examined and updated as required, on the basis of the most recent scientific knowledge.

But in Directive 2005/26/EC there are some food ingredients and substances provisionally excluded from Annex III of Directive 2000/13/EC. These exceptions are specifically relevant to food additives based on glucose syrups, eggs and soybeans.

Member States had one year (until 25 November 2004) to transpose the provisions of the Directive into their national legal systems. Manufacturers have a further year to ensure that their labels fully comply with the rules, meaning that from 25 November 2005 products must comply with the new legislation. However, products which have been put on the market or been labeled before that date, are allowed to be sold. EU-directive 2003/89/EG with Annex IIIa

http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/pri/en/oj/dat/2003/l_308/l_30820031125en00150018.pdf

EUFIC information on food allergy:
http://www.eufic.org/en/quickfacts/food_allergy.htm

General information on food additives (rules on labelling of additives, intake, etc):
http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sfp/addit_flavor/additives/index_en.html