FIR webinar
Dominic Watkins
Dominic Watkins
Dominic Watkins, head of food group and partner at law firm and event sponsor DWF, said the new food labelling rules would change the goalposts when they come into force on December 13 2014.
Watch our exclusive video with Watkins to find out why food and drink manufacturers that had taken early action to comply with the rules could face an early adopter’s penalty.
Watkins chose the following questions:
“What are the main changes to online presence?” Ian Smith, project manager, Asda
Watkins: “The FIC requires all of the mandatory information, other than a durability indication, to be shown for online sales of pre-packed goods. The products actually sold are required to comply with the FIC and therefore at the point of delivery all of the mandatory information is required.”
“What is the minimum font size?”Nicky Martin, head of nutrition, Compass Group and Charlotte Wood QA manager, Dalehead Foods
Watkins: “The minimum font size for the provision of the mandatory information is 1.2mm. If the smallest surface of the pack is 80cm2 in which case it is 0.9mm. For packs that are smaller than 10cm2 the font size doesn’t change but the information required reduces.”
“If American food products are sold in the UK or Europe do they have to comply with FIR regulations?” Laurie Chapman, senior new product development technologist, Greencore Northampton
Watkins: “Yes, I am afraid so. All foods sold in the EU will need to meet these requirements, their origin doesn’t alter this. Where the manufacturer is not established in the EU, the obligation to comply will fall on the importer.”
