European Communities (Labelling, Presentation and Advertising of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2000 (S.I. No. 92 of 2000).

The Regulations give effect to Directive 97/4/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, which amends Council Directive 79/112/EEC on the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs, and Commission Directive 1999/10/EC, which provides for derogations from Council Directive 79/112/EEC as amended by Directive 97/4/EEC. As well as consolidating existing legislation, the Regulations, in implementing two new directives, provide better information to the consumer about the nature and characteristics of certain foodstuffs. In certain specified circumstances food manufactures will be required to state on the label the quantity of an ingredient used in the manufacture or preparation of certain foodstuffs. In effect, unless specifically exempted, the quantity, indicated as a percentage, must be shown where the ingredient appears in the sales name, is otherwise emphasised on the label or is usually associated with the product. In addition, the use of `customary' sales names is permissible in the case of products to be sold in another Member State and changes are made to the rules governing `single ingredient' products, designation of ingredients and the language of labelling.