Information particulars

The information particulars required by the Regulation (EC) No 1580/2007 (no longer in force) must be shown legibly and obviously on one side of the packaging, either indelibly printed directly onto the package or on a label which is an integral part of the package or affixed to it. For goods shipped in bulk and loaded directly onto a means of transport, the information must be given in a document accompanying the goods or shown on a notice placed in an obvious position inside the means of transport.

In the case of distance contracts within the meaning of Article 2(1) of Directive 97/7/EC (no longer in force) (e.g. internet sales), conformity with the marketing standards requires that the information particulars must be available before the purchase is concluded.

Invoices and accompanying documents, excluding receipts for the consumer, must indicate the name and the country of origin of the products and, where appropriate, the class, the variety or commercial type if required in a specific marketing standard, or the fact that the product is intended for processing.

Information particulars at the retail stage

At retail stage, the information particulars required by Regulation (EC) No 1580/2007 (no longer in force) must be legible and conspicuous. Products may be presented for sale provided the retailer displays prominently, adjacent to and legibly the information particulars relating to country of origin and, where appropriate, class and variety or commercial type in such a way as not to mislead the consumer. Where fruit and vegetables are subject to a specific marketing standard they must indicate the information required for that particular product.

The marketing of packages of a net weight of 5 kg or less containing mixes of different types of fruit and vegetables shall be allowed, provided that:

(a) the products are of uniform quality and each product concerned complies with the relevant specific marketing standard or, where no specific marketing standard exists for a particular product, the general marketing standard,

(b) the package is appropriately labelled, in accordance with the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 1580/2007, and

(c) the mix is not such as to mislead the consumer.

If the fruit and vegetables in a mix originate in more than one Member State or third country, the full names of the countries of origin may be replaced with one of the following, as appropriate:

(a) ‘mix of EC fruit and vegetables’,

(b) ‘mix of non-EC fruit and vegetables’,

(c) ‘mix of EC and non-EC fruit and vegetables’.

Fruit and vegetables are also subject to the general labelling rules.