Commission Directive 94/54/EC of 18 November 1994 concerning the compulsory indication on the labelling of certain foodstuffs of particulars other than those provided for in Council Directive 79/112/EEC
Modified by
  • Council Directive 96/21/ECof 29 March 1996, 31996L0021, April 5, 1996
  • Commission Directive 2004/77/ECof 29 April 2004amending Directive 94/54/EC as regards the labelling of certain foods containing glycyrrhizinic acid and its ammonium salt(Text with EEA relevance), 32004L0077, April 30, 2004
  • Commission Directive 2008/5/ECof 30 January 2008concerning the compulsory indication on the labelling of certain foodstuffs of particulars other than those provided for in Directive 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council(Text with EEA relevance)(Codified version), 32008L0005, January 31, 2008
Commission Directive 94/54/ECof 18 November 1994concerning the compulsory indication on the labelling of certain foodstuffs of particulars other than those provided for in Council Directive 79/112/EEC THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,Having regard to Council Directive 79/112/EEC of 18 December 1978 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs OJ No L 33, 8. 2. 1979, p. 1., as last amended by Commission Directive 93/102/EC OJ No L 291, 25. 11. 1993, p. 14., and in particular Article 4 (2) thereof,Whereas, having regard to the scope and effects of the proposed action, the Community measures introduced by this Directive are essential if the objectives set are to be attained; whereas those objectives cannot be attained by the Member States acting individually; whereas, moreover, Directive 79/112/EEC already provides for the attainment of such objectives at Community level;Whereas, in order to ensure that consumers receive adequate information, it is necessary to provide for compulsory indication, for certain foodstuffs, of other particulars in addition to those provided for in Article 3 of Directive 79/112/EEC;Whereas packaging gases used in packaging certain foodstuffs should not be regarded as ingredients for the purposes of Article 6 (1) of Directive 79/112/EEC and therefore should not be included in the list of ingredients on the label;Whereas, however, consumers should be informed of the use of such gases inasmuch as this information enables them to understand why the foodstuff they have purchased has a longer shelf-life than similar products packaged differently;Whereas, in order to prevent new barriers to trade being created by unilateral measures taken by Member States, it is necessary to adopt Community provisions;Whereas, in accordance with the procedure of Article 17 of Council Directive 79/112/EEC, this Directive was submitted to the Standing Committee for Foodstuffs which was unable to express an opinion; whereas, under the same procedure, the Commission submitted to the Council a proposal relating to the measures to be taken;Whereas, since the Council has not adopted any measures by the end of the three months it was given, the Commission should adopt the proposed measures,HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
Article 1Without prejudice to the provisions of Article 3 of Directive 79/112/EEC, the labelling of the foodstuffs listed in the Annex to this Directive shall include additional particulars, as set out in that Annex.
Article 2Member States shall, where necessary, amend their laws, regulations and administrative provisions by 30 June 1995 in such a way so as to:permit trade in products complying with this Directive no later than 1 July 1995,prohibit trade in products not complying with this Directive with effect from 1 January 1997; however, trade in products placed on the market or labelled before that date and not conforming with this Directive may continue until stocks run out.They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.When Member States adopt these provisions, these shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such reference at the time of their official publication. The procedure for such reference shall be adopted by Member States.
Article 3This Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.
nullANNEXList of foodstuffs for which the labelling must include one or more additional particulars
OJ No L 40, 11. 2. 1989, p. 27.OJ No L 237, 10. 9. 1994, p. 3.The level shall apply to the products as proposed ready for consumption or as reconstituted according to the instructions of the manufacturers
Type or category of foodstuffParticulars
Foodstuffs whose durability has been extended by means of packaging gases authorized pursuant to Council Directive 89/107/EEC"Packaged in a protective atmosphere"
Foodstuffs containing a sweetener or sweeteners as authorized by Directive 94/35/EC "with sweetener(s)"This particular shall accompany the name under which the product is sold, as laid down in Article 5 of Directive 79/112/EEC
Foodstuffs containing both an added sugar or sugars and a sweetener or sweeteners as authorized by Directive 94/35/EC"with sugar(s) and sweetener(s)"This particular shall accompany the name under which the product is sold as laid down in Article 5 of Directive 79/112/EEC
Foodstuffs containing aspartame"contains a source of phenylalanine"
Foodstuffs containing more than 10 % added polyols"excessive consumption may produce laxative effects"
Confectionery or beverages containing glycyrrhizinic acid or its ammonium salt due to the addition of the substance(s) as such or the liquorice plant Glycyrrhiza glabra, at concentration of 100 mg/kg or 10 mg/l or above.The terms "contains liquorice" shall be added immediately after the list of ingredients, unless the term "liquorice" is already included in the list of ingredients or in the name under which the product is sold. In absence of list of ingredients, the particular shall take place nearby the name under which the product is sold.
Confectionary containing glycyrrhizinic acid or its ammonium salt due to the addition of the substance(s) as such or the liquorice plant Glycyrrhiza glabra at concentrations of 4 g/kg or above.The following message must be added after the list of ingredients: "contains liquorice-people suffering from hypertension should avoid excessive consumption". In absence of list of ingredients, the particular shall take place nearby the name under which the product is sold.
Beverages containing glycyrrhizinic acid or its ammonium salt due to the addition of the substance(s) as such or the liquorice plant Glycyrrhiza glabra at concentrations of 50 mg/l or above, or of 300 mg/l or above in the case of beverages containing more than 1,2 % by volume of alcohol.The following message must be added after the list of ingredients: "contains liquorice- people suffering from hypertension should avoid excessive consumption". In absence of list of ingredients, the particular shall take place nearby the name under which the product is sold.