1994L0054 — EN — 20.05.2004 — 002.001 — 1
This document is meant purely as a documentation tool and the institutions do not assume any liability for its contents
►B COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 94/54/EC
of 18 November 1994
concerning the compulsory indication on the labelling of certain foodstuffs of particulars other
than those provided for in Council Directive 79/112/EEC
(OJ L 300, 23.11.1994, p. 14)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►M1 Council Directive 96/21/EC of 29 March 1996 L 88 5 5.4.1996
►M2 Commission Directive 2004/77/EC of 29 April 2004 L 162 76 30.4.2004
▼B
COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 94/54/EC
of 18 November 1994
concerning the compulsory indication on the labelling of certain
foodstuffs of particulars other than those provided for in Council
Directive 79/112/EEC
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 79/112/EEC of 18 December 1978
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the
labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs (1), as last
amended by Commission Directive 93/102/EC (2), and in particular
Article 4 (2) thereof,
Whereas, having regard to the scope and effects of the proposed action,
the Community measures introduced by this Directive are essential if
the objectives set are to be attained; whereas those objectives cannot
be attained by the Member States acting individually; whereas, more-over, Directive 79/112/EEC already provides for the attainment ofsuch objectives at Community level;
Whereas, in order to ensure that consumers receive adequate informa-
tion, it is necessary to provide for compulsory indication, for certain
foodstuffs, of other particulars in addition to those provided for in
Article 3 of Directive 79/112/EEC;
Whereas packaging gases used in packaging certain foodstuffs should
not be regarded as ingredients for the purposes of Article 6 (1) ofDirective 79/112/EEC and therefore should not be included in the listof ingredients on the label;
Whereas, however, consumers should be informed of the use of such
gases inasmuch as this information enables them to understand why
the foodstuff they have purchased has a longer shelf-life than similarproducts packaged differently;
Whereas, in order to prevent new barriers to trade being created by
unilateral measures taken by Member States, it is necessary to adoptCommunity provisions;
Whereas, in accordance with the procedure of Article 17 of Council
Directive 79/112/EEC, this Directive was submitted to the StandingCommittee for Foodstuffs which was unable to express an opinion;whereas, under the same procedure, the Commission submitted to theCouncil a proposal relating to the measures to be taken;
Whereas, since the Council has not adopted any measures by the end of
the three months it was given, the Commission should adopt the
proposed measures,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
Article 1
Without prejudice to the provisions of Article 3 of Directive 79/112/
EEC, the labelling of the foodstuffs listed in the Annex to this Direc-tive shall include additional particulars, as set out in that Annex.
Article 2
Member States shall, where necessary, amend their laws, regulations
and administrative provisions by 30 June 1995 in such a way so as to:
— permit trade in products complying with this Directive no later than
1 July 1995,1994L0054 — EN — 20.05.2004 — 002.001 — 2
(1) OJ No L 33, 8. 2. 1979, p. 1.
(2) OJ No L 291, 25. 11. 1993, p. 14.
▼B
— prohibit trade in products not complying with this Directive with
effect from 1 January 1997; however, trade in products placed onthe market or labelled before that date and not conforming with
this Directive may continue until stocks run out.
They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.When Member States adopt these provisions, these shall contain a
reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such referenceat the time of their official publication. The procedure for such refer-ence shall be adopted by Member States.
Article 3
This Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following its
publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities .1994L0054 — EN — 20.05.2004 — 002.001 — 3
▼B
ANNEX
List of foodstuffs for which the labelling must include one or more addi-
tional particulars
Type or category of foodstuff Particulars
Foodstuffs whose durability has been
extended by means of packaging
gases authorized pursuant to Council
Directive 89/107/EEC (1)‘Packaged in a protective atmosphere’
Foodstuffs containing a sweetener or
sweeteners as authorized by Directive
94/35/EC (2)‘with sweetener(s)’
This particular shall accompany the
name under which the product is
sold, as laid down in Article 5 of
Directive 79/112/EEC
Foodstuffs containing both an added
sugar or sugars and a sweetener or
sweeteners as authorized by Directive
94/35/EC‘with sugar(s) and sweetener(s)’
This particular shall accompany the
name under which the product is sold
as laid down in Article 5 of Directive
79/112/EEC
Foodstuffs containing aspartame ‘contains a source of phenylalanine’
Foodstuffs containing more than 10 %
added polyols‘excessive consumption may produce
laxative effects’
Confectionery or beverages
containing glycyrrhizinic acid or its
ammonium salt due to the addition of
the substance(s) as such or the
liquorice plant Glycyrrhiza glabra, at
concentration of 100 mg/kg or 10 mg/
l or above.The terms ‘contains liquorice’ shall be
added immediately after the list of
ingredients, unless the term ‘liquorice’
is already included in the list of ingre-
dients or in the name under which the
product is sold. In absence of list of
ingredients, the particular shall take
place nearby the name under which
the product is sold.
Confectionary containing glycyrrhi-
zinic acid or its ammonium salt due
to the addition of the substance(s) as
such or the liquorice plant Glycyr-
rhiza glabra at concentrations of 4 g/
kg or above.The following message must be added
after the list of ingredients: ‘contains
liquorice-people suffering from hyper-
tension should avoid excessive
consumption’. In absence of list of
ingredients, the particular shall take
place nearby the name under which
the product is sold.
Beverages containing glycyrrhizinic
acid or its ammonium salt due to the
addition of the substance(s) as such
or the liquorice plant Glycyrrhiza
glabra at concentrations of 50 mg/l
or above, or of 300 mg/l or above in
the case of beverages containing more
than 1,2 % by volume of alcohol (3).The following message must be added
after the list of ingredients: ‘contains
liquorice- people suffering from
hypertension should avoid excessive
consumption’. In absence of list of
ingredients, the particular shall take
place nearby the name under which
the product is sold.
(1) OJ No L 40, 11. 2. 1989, p. 27.
(2) OJ No L 237, 10. 9. 1994, p. 3.
►M2 (3) The level shall apply to the products as proposed ready for consumption or as
reconstituted according to the instructions of the manufacturers ◄1994L0054 — EN — 20.05.2004 — 002.001 — 4
▼M1
▼M2
▼B
▼M1
▼B