May 24, 2024 - According to the Official Journal of the European Union, on May 14, the European Parliament and the Council issued Directive (EU) 2024/1438 amending the following directives: the Council Directive 2001/110/EC on honey; Directive 2001/112/EC on fruit juices and certain similar products intended for human consumption; Directive 2001/112/EC on jams, jellies, marmalades and sweet chestnut spreads; Directive 2001/113/EC on jams, jellies, marmalades and sweet chestnut spreads intended for human consumption; and Directive 2001/114/EC on certain partially or completely dehydrated dairy products intended for human consumption.The main amendments include:

(1) Directive 2001/110/EC is amended. The definition and scope of the products concerned in the introduction to Article 2 are amended. The product names referred to in points 2 and 3 of Annex I shall apply only to the products defined therein and shall be used in trade to designate those products. These names may be replaced by the simple product name “honey”, with the exception of comb honey, lump honey or cut comb in honey and baker's honey. In the case of baker's honey, the words “for cooking purposes only” shall appear on the label immediately after the name of the product, etc;

(2) Directive 2001/112/EC as amended. The statement “fruit juices contain only natural sugars” may appear in the same field of vision on the label as the name of the product referred to in Annex I, Part I, point 1. Without prejudice to Article 22 of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, in the case of fruit juices from concentrate or mixtures of fruit juices from concentrate with reduced sugar and fruit juices or reduced sugar, as well as nectars wholly or partly extracted from one or more products from concentrate, the label shall indicate, where appropriate, “from concentrate” or “partly from concentrate”. “partially from concentrate”, as appropriate. This information should be close to the name of the product, standing out from any background in clearly visible characters;

(3) Amendments to Directive 2001/113/EC. In point 2, the following subparagraphs are added: Member States with “marmalade” and “extra marmalade” may authorize in their territory the use of “mixed fruit marmalade” or “mixed fruit marmalade” or “mixed fruit marmalade”. “[x] fruit marmalade”, where x is the number of fruits, as in the case of marmalade made from three or more fruits;

(4) Directive 2001/114/EC is amended. In point 3 of Annex I, the following sub-point is added: “(d) Reduction of lactose content by conversion to glucose and galactose. The alteration of the composition of milk by this treatment is only permitted if it is indelibly marked on the packaging of the product in such a way as to be easily visible and readable. Such labeling does not affect the nutrition labeling obligations under Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011. Member States may restrict or prohibit the modifications to the composition of milk referred to in this subsection.”

(5) Transitional measures. Products placed on the market or labeled before June 14, 2026 in accordance with Directives 2001/110/EC, 2001/112/EC, 2001/113/EC and 2001/114/EC may continue to be placed on the market until stocks are depleted;

(6) Entry into force. The Directive enters into force on the 20th day after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. The Directive is addressed to the Member States.

Learn more: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L_202401438