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Labelling rules related to food enzymes are set down in Articles 10 to 13 of Regulation (EC) No. 1332/2008 on food enzymes and also in Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011 on the provision of Food Information to Consumers. 

Labelling of food enzymes and food enzyme preparations NOT INTENDED for sale to the final consumer

Food enzymes and food enzyme preparations not intended for sale to the final consumer (i.e., business to business), whether sold singly or mixed with each other and/or other food ingredients, may only be marketed in line with Articles 10 and 11 of Regulation (EC) No 1332/2008: 

  • the name laid down under Regulation (EC) No 1332/2008 in respect of each food enzyme or a sales description which includes the name of each food enzyme or in the absence of such a name, the accepted name laid down in the nomenclature of the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IUBMB)
  • the statement ‘for food’ or the statement ‘restricted use in food’ or a more specific reference to its intended food use
  • if necessary, the special conditions of storage and/or use
  • a mark identifying the batch or lot
  • instructions for use, if the omission thereof would preclude appropriate use of the food enzyme
  • the name or business name and address of the manufacturer, packager or seller
  • an indication of the maximum quantity of each component or group of components subject to quantitative limitation in food and/or appropriate information in clear and easily understandable terms enabling the purchaser to comply with Regulation (EC) No 1332/2008 or other relevant Community law; where the same limit on quantity applies to a group of components used singly or in combination, the combined percentage may be given as a single figure; the limit on quantity shall be expressed either numerically or by the quantum satis principle;
  • the net quantity
  • the activity of the food enzyme(s)
  • the date of minimum durability or use-by-date
  • where relevant, information about allergenic properties.

Where food enzymes and/or food enzyme preparations are sold mixed with each other and/or with other food ingredients, their packaging or containers shall bear a list of all ingredients in descending order of their percentage by weight of the total. The packaging or containers of food enzyme preparations shall bear a list of all components in descending order of their percentage by weight of the total.

By way of derogation from the above, the information required in the paragraph above and in points (e) to (g) may appear merely on the documents relating to the consignment which are to be supplied with or prior to the delivery, provided that the indication ‘not for retail sale’ appears on an easily visible part of the packaging or container of the product in question.

Where food enzymes and food enzyme preparations are supplied in tankers, all of the information may appear merely on the accompanying documents relating to the consignment which are to be supplied with the delivery.

Labelling of food enzymes and food enzyme preparations INTENDED for sale to the final consumer 

Without prejudice to Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of Food Information to Consumers, Directive 2011/91/EU on indications or marks identifying the lot to which a foodstuff belongs and Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 on Genetically Modified food; food enzymes and food enzyme preparations sold singly or mixed with each other and/or other food ingredients intended for sale to the final consumer may be marketed only if their packaging contains the following information in line with Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 1332/2008: 

  • the name laid down under Regulation (EC) No 1332/2008 in respect of each food enzyme or a sales description which includes the name of each food enzyme or in the absence of such a name, the accepted name laid down in the nomenclature of the IUBMB
  • the statement ‘for food’ or the statement ‘restricted use in food’ or a more specific reference to its intended food use. 

These particulars must be easy to understand and marked in a conspicuous place in such a way as to be easily visible, clearly legible and indelible. They shall not in any way be hidden, obscured or interrupted by other written or pictorial matter.

According to Article 20 of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of Food Information to Consumers, food enzymes as constituents of a food shall not be required to be included in the list of ingredients of that food if their presence is solely due to the fact that they were contained in one or more ingredients of that food provided that they serve no technological function in the finished product; or which are used as processing aids.