It’s a mess

Small businesses are confused, asserts Chris Dabner
 
Whilst necessary for the free movement of goods, the present very complex regulations on food labelling are themselves a barrier to trade for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), who find them difficult to understand and comply with. 
Labelling and labelling changes are expensive.  They need technical expertise, resources and significant amounts of time, all of which cost money. SMEs often have to outsource their labelling at a disproportionate cost.
However most food sold is not traded between Member States!

Other ways of communicating

Comprehensive labelling is just one means of providing information. Other means of providing the information, for example web sites, free phone lines, leaflets are beyond most SMEs.
However, vast amounts of food are sold non pre-packed or pre packed for direct sale direct to the consumer by producers, manufacturers or specialist retailers, who are usually SMEs. 
In these situations the consumer can ask.  Article 14 of Directive 2000/13 allows Member States to decide in such situations what information is really necessary and has to appear on the product or on a label/notice nearby. Usually only minimal information is required.
Consumers appear happy as the number of markets, farmers markets, farm shops are increasing.  This ‘derogation’ is extremely important for SMEs, who comprise 99 per cent of all food businesses and generate around 50 per cent of the turnover in the food sector.

Simplicity?

At the food labelling conference in February, the suggestion for uniformity was linked to simplification. 
There are some fundamental problems, contradictions that need to be resolved.
Industry is continually being told that consumers want more information, for example country of origin and nutrition; but that there is already too much information on the label. We are being told that consumers don't understand it, and that they want labelling that is simpler, easier to read and understand.
It is unclear what is wrong. Detailed research is urgently needed.

Want vs. need

When producing the labelling legislation no distinction appears to have been made between ‘want’ and ‘need’. Information is provided because a certain group ‘wants’ it, but there is no real ‘need’ for it. 
Nutritional information is provided on 89 per cent of all pre-packed foods in the UK, yet only 9 per cent require it by law. However there is still a major problem with obesity.  So just providing more information is not the answer.
Legislators need to decide what information is important and must be provided.  It must also be useful and be used.

Chris Dabner is the Parliamentary Officer at the National Association of Master Bakers
cdabner@masterbakers.co.uk