Food Information Regulation
The core document for mandatory labelling requirements is the Food Information to Consumers Regulation — Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011 — which sets out how consumers must be informed about food products. However, even this regulation does not cover all labelling obligations in full.
Additional regulations, directives, and national laws define further details. One example is the “Prepackaging Regulation” (Fertigpackungsverordnung), which also applies to food supplements.
Health Claims
Voluntary health-related claims (marketing statements) trigger additional mandatory information for food products — including food supplements — as set out in Regulation (EC) No. 1924/2006 (the Health Claims Regulation).
Specific Requirements for Food Supplements
Food supplements are subject to additional labelling requirements. This product category is defined in Directive 2002/46/EC as “food intended to supplement the normal diet.”
Directive 2002/46/EC sets out further mandatory labelling elements for food supplements. These include, among other things, the recommended daily intake, as well as special notices regarding use by children or in the context of a balanced and varied diet.
