UK FSA updates advice on allergen labelling provisions

As part of a regular review of their guidance notes, the UK Food Standards Agency has recently published an updated version of their Guidance on allergen and miscellaneous labelling provisions. The guidance was previously updated in January 2010.

The aim of the guidance notes is to help all food manufacturers, producers, retailers, caterers and enforcement authorities understand the requirements of the regulations which relate to the allergen and miscellaneous labelling provisions and to offer advice on relevant best practice. The guidance covers separate but parallel regulations in all four countries of the UK.

The updated notes account for the new 2011 Food Labelling Regulations that came into force in the UK in March this year, at which point the 2009 regulations were revoked. The latest regulations are primarily intended to provide the wine industry time to provide the European Commission with the information needed to support a permanent exemption from allergen labelling regulations in relation to the addition of fining agents derived from allergenic substances. This temporary exemption has been extended until 30 June 2012.

The updated guidance notes can be downloaded from the Food Standards Agency website.