Here you can find the legislation and guidance for fruit jam, jelly, marmalade and chestnut purée.
Amendment to the Breakfast Directives
Directive (EU) 2024/1438 amends four of the seven Directives, known collectively as the ‘Breakfast Directives’ relating to honey, fruit juices, jams, jellies and marmalades and preserved dehydrated milk products. The updated directives aim to promote a shift to healthier diets, help consumers make informed choices, and ensure transparency regarding the origin of products.
Summary of amendments to EU Directive 2024/1438 relating to Jams, Jellies & Marmalades
Directive 2024/1438 increases the minimum fruit content for ‘jam’ from 350g of fruit per 1000g of finished product to 450g (100g increase); and increases the minimum fruit content for ‘extra jam’ or ‘extra jelly’ from 450g of fruit per 1000g of finished product, to 500g (50g increase). The aim of the increase is to reduce the amount of added sugar needed to reach the minimum content of soluble dry matter (60%) in those products.
Directive 2024/1438 also permits the use of concentrated citrus fruit juice alongside currently permitted fruit juice, as an acidifying agent in jam, extra jam, jelly, and extra jelly. Directive 2024/1438 amends the current definition ‘marmalade’ to ‘citrus marmalade’. Other permitted terms include ‘(name of citrus fruit) marmalade’ or ‘mixed fruits marmalade’, where only citrus fruits are used.
Directive 2024/1438 adds reference to (EU) 1169/2011 Food Information to Consumers and removes the specific provision on sugar labelling.
EU legislation
Council Directive 2001/113/EC (OJ L 010, p67, 12.01.02) of 20 December 2001 relating to fruit jams, jellies and marmalades and sweetened chestnut purée intended for human consumption
Amended by:
- Directive (EU) 2024/1438 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 amending Council Directives 2001/110/EC relating to honey, 2001/112/EC relating to fruit juices and certain similar products intended for human consumption, 2001/113/EC relating to fruit jams, jellies and marmalades and sweetened chestnut purée intended for human consumption, and 2001/114/EC relating to certain partly or wholly dehydrated preserved milk for human consumption
- Council Directive 2004/84/EC (OJ L 219, p8, 19.06.2004) of 10 June 2004
- Council Regulation (EC) No 361/2008 (OJ L 121, p1, 7.05.2008) of 14 April 2008
- Regulation (EU) No 1021/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 287, p1, 29.10.2013) of 9 October 2013
Consolidated version of Council Directive 2001/113/EC as at 18th November 2013
National legislation
Directive (EU) 2024/1438 requires transposition into Irish law. Ireland along with other Member States are required to adopt and publish the national legislation by 14 December 2025. Food businesses have a transitional period up to 14 June 2026 to comply.
European Communities (Marketing of Fruit Jams, Jellies, Marmalades and Sweetened Chestnut Purée) Regulation, 2003 (S.I. No. 294 of 2003)
Council Directive 2001/113/EC of 20 December 2001 relating to fruit jams, jellies and marmalades and sweetened chestnut purée intended for human consumption
The purpose of Directive 2001/113/EC is to prescribe standards for the composition and labelling of fruit jams, jellies, marmalades and chestnut purée products. The Directive defines:
- jam
- jelly
- marmalade
- extra jam
- extra jelly
- chestnut purée
Definitions are also given for the following raw materials which may be used in the manufacture of these products:
- fruit
- fruit pulp
- fruit purée
- aqueous extracts of fruit
- sugars
For the purposes of Directive 2001/113/EC, tomatoes, the edible parts of rhubarb stalks, carrots, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, pumpkins, melons and water-melons are considered as fruit.
The Directive also lays down labelling requirements for products which fall within its scope, which apply in addition to the general labelling requirements of Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers.