European sector spotlight

The food and beverage industry saw a significant amount of activity around labelling and packaging regulations during 2021, specifically with Natasha’s Law officially going into effect in the UK in October. The European Commission also began the process to harmonize food labelling and started work on proposed changes to Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on providing food information to consumers (FIC Regulation).

Sustainability and environmental concerns were another focus of the food and beverage industry in 2021, with the UK’s Competition and Markets Authorities (CMA) Green Claims Code going live. This code includes six rules designed to help businesses be honest with their customers about their environmental credentials and protect consumers from false or misleading claims. The UK Advertising Standards Authority issued its first sanction over greenwashing – for a claim by an alternative milk company – signalling that regulators will continue to take a stricter view on environmental claims in 2022.

While product recall numbers are important, they are only part of the story. Here's what you should take away from food and beverage product safety developments in 2022:

• At the end of 2021, the European Commission published its public consultation for the proposed changes to FIC Regulation as it seeks to harmonize food labelling. Have you been following the progress of these proposed changes and taking the opportunities to participate in the drafting process? Will your company be prepared to make the changes necessary to comply with any new labelling regulations?
• With the UK’s Green Claims Code live and a renewed focus on the veracity of environmental claims, additional regulatory action around green claims and greenwashing can be expected. Have you inventoried your environmental claims to ensure they comply with current regulations or could be adapted for future rules? Is your reputation strong enough to stand up to negative coverage about unsupported environmental claims?