The UK's Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has published a series of guidelines that food producers, manufacturers and retailers will need to adhere to in the event of a no-deal exit from the UK.
Some of the new guidelines will 'come into effect from exit day', the government body said, while others will take longer to implement.
'The UK government is aiming wherever possible to allow a transition period for labelling changes in relation to goods produced or imported and placed on the UK market after exit day,' Defra said in a statement.
Immediate Measures
Among the immediate measures UK-based producers will need to adhere to include potentially removing the EU organic logo from UK organic goods, removal of EU oval health and identification marks, removal of the EU emblem and ensuring UK food is not labelled 'origin EU'.
Other changes that will need to implemented by 31 December 2020 include incorporating new UK health and identification marks for products of animal origin, the use of 'UK and non-UK' labelling on meat and 'a mix of UK and non-UK origin' on fruit and vegetables, and 'Non-UK standard' labelling on eggs imported from non-EU countries.
In addition, if suppliers produce a GI-protected food or drink product (except wine or spirits), they will be required to use a relevant UK logo for products on sale within the UK; a measure that will be implemented by March 2022.
© 2019 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Stephen Wynne-Jones. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
