From 1 Jan 2021 food produced in GB and sold in the EU must not be labelled as ‘EU origin’. Food produced and sold in NI can continue to use ‘origin EU’. Food produced and sold in GB can continue to be labelled with ‘EU origin’ until 30 September, 2022. After this date relevant food labels must change to reflect GB origin.
There are nuances for different food categories:
Minced Meat Labels
Sold in NI: Can refer to EU and non-EU where label does not list each country of origin.
Sold in GB: Can refer to EU and non-EU until 30 September 2022; from 1 October, 2022 references to EU must be changed to UK when the label does not list each country of origin. For example, ‘origin EU and non-EU’ must change to ‘origin UK and non-UK’.
You must label mince products made from different animals reared in different countries with:
- a reference number or code that links the mince to the animal or group of animals it came from, or to the batches of meat used for mincing
- the country where the mincing took place
- all the countries where the animal or group of animals lived from birth to slaughter (if different from the country of mincing) – if all these countries are outside the UK, label the product ‘Origin: non-UK’
- the country of slaughter
GB and NI origin beef can continue to be batched together for sale on any market. They do not need to be separated into different retail packing batches. Mixed (GB and NI) origin products should be labelled as ‘UK(NI)/UK’ for sale on any market (GB, NI or EU). If you’re selling on the GB market alone, mixed (GB and NI) origin products can also be labelled as ‘UK’, although this is not valid for the NI or EU market.
You can use alternative labelling for mince instead of the full origin labelling in certain instances.
If the minced meat is from a batch of meat that’s from multiple countries, label the product:
- ‘Origin: non-UK’ if the countries do not include the UK
- ‘UK and non-UK’ if the countries include the UK
Where reference is made to the country of birth, rearing, slaughter or ‘origin’ and that stage of production is in NI, use the indication ‘UK(NI)’. Minced meat sold in NI must refer to ‘EU’, ‘non-EU’ or ‘EU and non-EU’ as appropriate when the label does not list each country of origin.
Mixed (GB and NI) origin products should be labelled as ‘UK(NI)/UK’ for sale on any market (GB, NI or EU). If you’re selling on the GB market alone, mixed (GB and NI) origin products can also be labelled as ‘UK’, although this is not valid for the NI or EU market. For minced meat sold in GB, you can continue to refer to ‘EU’ and ‘non-EU’ until 31 December 2023. From 1 January 2024, you must use ‘non-UK’ or ‘UK and non-UK’ when the label does not list each country of origin.
Fruit and Vegetables Labels
Sold in NI: Can refer to EU and Non-EU
Sold in GB: References to the EU must be replaced with UK on the label for mixes of UK fruit and vegetables from 1 October 2022. For example, ‘a mix of EU and non-EU origin’ changes to ‘a mix of UK and non-UK origin’. Approved Trader Scheme EU emblem must be changed to GB version from 1 January 2021.
Olive Oil
Sold in NI: Can continue to refer to ‘EU and non-EU’ when no country of origin list is provided.
Sold in GB: From 1 October 2022 you cannot use the term ‘blend of EU and non-EU’. The label must contain one of the following:
Each country of origin must be listed on the label. The statement ‘blend of olive oils from more than one country’ (or similar wording). The name of the trading bloc to which a regional trade agreement applies, for example ‘blend of olive oils of European Union origin’
Honey Blend Labels
Sold in NI: If you are not labelling with a list of origins and choose alternative wording this statement must reflect the GB is no longer a part of the EU.
- For a honey blend from EU member states = ‘Blend of EU honeys’
- For a blend from countries outside the EU such as GB = ‘Blend of non-EU honeys’
- For a blend from EU member states and non-EU member States such as GB = ‘Blend of EU and non-EU honeys’
These same terms can be used in England and Wales until 30 September 2022 remembering that where an English and French produced honey was once a ‘blend of EU honeys’, this will now be a ‘blend of EU and Non-EU honeys’. From 1 October 2022 you must use ‘blend of honeys from more than one country’ (or similar wording) if you decide not to list each country of origin.
Sold in Scotland: From 1 January 2021, origin labelling may include
- ‘Blend of honeys from more than one country’ (or similar wording)
- Reference to the trading bloc of the countries of origin for example ‘blend of EU honeys’
Beef and Veal Labels
Sold in NI: Can continue to refer to ‘origin non-EU’ if the full individual country information is not available.
Sold in GB: If the animal that beef or veal came from was born, reared or slaughtered outside of the UK, the label must state ‘Origin: non-UK’ from 1 October 2022. Until this date you can continue to use origin ‘non-EU’.
‘Live import into the EC’ must be replaced with ‘beef from a live import into the UK’ where the country of origin of the animal is not known.
You must label all chilled and frozen beef and veal, including minced beef and veal, with the:
reference number or code linking the meat to the animal or group of animals it came from
- country of birth
- country of rearing
- country of slaughter
- country of cutting
- approval numbers of the slaughterhouse and cutting plants
Beef and veal sold in NI must refer to ‘Origin: non-EU’ if the animal your beef or veal came from:
- was born, reared or slaughtered outside of the EU
- you do not have the full individual country information
For beef and veal sold in GB, you can refer to ‘non-EU’ until 31 December 2023. From 1 January 2024, you must use ‘non-UK’ in GB when the full individual country information is not available.
When full information is not available, the label must show:
- origin: Non-UK (you can refer to non-EU until 31 December 2023)
- slaughtered in: [name of non-EU country]
- the reference number or code when the beef is cut or repackaged after import
For beef and veal, the label must record all of the following:
- country of birth
- country or countries of fattening
- country of slaughter
If all these activities took place in a single country, the label ‘Origin: [name of country]’ is acceptable.
For the GB market, ‘United Kingdom’ is the origin label for beef and veal from both GB and NI, although additional information may be included if desired. The abbreviation ‘UK’ is permitted. For the NI and EU markets, ‘UK(NI)’ must be used to refer to NI origin. Every batch of minced beef must come from animals which were slaughtered in the same country. This means GB and NI origin minced beef can continue to be batched together for sale on any market. They do not need to be separated into different retail packing batches.
Mixed (GB and NI) origin products must be labelled as ‘UK/UK(NI)’ for sale on the NI and EU market. This labelling is also acceptable on the GB market. If you’re selling on the GB market, mixed (GB and NI) origin products only require ‘UK’, ‘UK’ or ‘UK/UK(NI)’ as their mandatory origin label.
The government recognises that businesses need time to adapt to these new labelling rules. It’s working with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and district councils in NI on a pragmatic enforcement approach that takes these challenges into account. This approach is being implemented in a way which supports businesses as they adapt to the requirements over time.
Simplified:
- Products of GB origin or mixed origin (blended) that were once labelled ‘origin EU’, must be changed to ‘origin non-EU’ when sold in the member-states from 1 January 2021. NI produced products can continue to use ‘origin EU’.
- Depending on the category and country of sale, different labelling approaches will be required from 1 January 2021 and again on 1 October 2022. These include examples such as replacing instances of ‘EU’ with ‘UK’ or stating the product is made from a ‘blend of [x] from more than one country’ (or similar wording).
You’ll need to make any required labelling changes for goods sold in GB by 31 December 2023. Local authorities in GB will be responsible for enforcement of labelling changes. Your food label can contain other information if you need to comply with labelling requirements for another market. Under the Northern Ireland Protocol, goods sold in NI continue to follow EU rules for food labelling. There are changes to labelling that apply from 1 January 2021
However, the UK government recognises that businesses will need time to adapt to these new labelling rules. The UK government is working with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and district councils in NI on an enforcement approach of new labelling requirements on the NI market that takes these challenges into account.
