Council Directive 89/396/EEC on indications or marks identifying the lot to which a foodstuff belongs.

This Directive concerns the indication, which allows identification of the lot to which a foodstuff belongs. For the purposes of this Directive, 'lot' means a batch of sales units of a foodstuff produced, manufactured or packaged under practically the same conditions. A foodstuff may not be marketed unless it is accompanied by an indication as referred to in article 1. The lot shall be determined in each case by the producer, manufacturer or packager of the foodstuff in question, or the first seller established within the Community. The indication referred to in article 1 shall be determined and affixed under the responsibility of one or other of those operators. It shall be preceded by the letter 'L' except in cases where it is clearly distinguishable from the other indications on the label. When the foodstuffs are pre-packaged, the indication referred to in article 1 and, where appropriate, the letter 'L' shall appear on the pre-packaging or on a label attached thereto. When the foodstuffs are not pre-packaged, the indication referred to in Article 1 and, where appropriate, the letter 'L' shall appear on the packaging or on the container or, failing that, on the relevant commercial documents. It shall in all cases appear in such a way as to be easily visible, clearly legible and indelible. (8 articles)