The European Commission recently published a summary report from a Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (SCoPAFF) General Food Law meeting held on 19^th September.

An exchange of views took place on the implications for Irish Food Business Operators arising from the UK amendments to Bread and Flour Regulations.

The Irish authorities presented to the Committee the implications of the UK amendments to Bread and Flour regulations, which introduce the mandatory fortification of non-wholemeal flour and bread with folic acid and increase levels of other nutrients already required under existing fortification rules, with a transition period until December 2026. However, most wholesale millers would implement the changes by October 2025.

To manage this accelerated timeline, Ireland is seeking potential pragmatic and proportionate solutions to address food business operators’ concerns while ensuring transparent food information to consumers. In particular, Ireland proposed allowing food business operators to use temporary flash labelling on the front of pack to indicate the presence of folic acid.

Concerning the other nutrients, Ireland explained that relabelling might not be needed as the increased levels would remain within the tolerance ranges, i.e. within the acceptable differences between the declared on label nutrient values and those found during official controls.

Ireland emphasised that any flexibilities would be limited, applied on a case-by-case basis, and agreed upon between the food business operators and the relevant competent authority.

During the exchange of views, some Member States requested more information regarding the content of the proposed flash labelling. The Commission emphasised that any additional information on the presence of folic acid should be provided and presented in a way that is not perceived as a misleading nutrition claim and underscored the importance of complying with the Commission’s guidance on setting tolerances for nutrient values declared on the label.

The Commission expressed support for a pragmatic and proportionate approach that does not undermine consumer protection and public health and requested Ireland to share details about the wording and presentation of the folic acid related information with the experts of the Committee in the following week.