Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland (ABFI) has committed to sign a European-wide Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which will provide consumers with clear information regarding ingredients and energy values on labels.
"The MoU will be signed by ABFI and the sector’s European trade association, Brewers of Europe, in September, formalising their commitment to provide this information on all beer bottles and cans in the EU by 2022," the representative body for drinks manufacturers and suppliers in Ireland highlighted in a statement.
Over the last four years many brewers, including in the Irish market, have been voluntarily rolling out ingredients and energy labelling.
Across Europe 60% of beers sold have calorie information, while 85% already carry an ingredients list.
EU Health Commissioner Andriukaitis has welcomed the commitment by brewers to provide ingredient and energy values.
Officially Signed
The MoU, which will be signed officially in September, follows significant engagement between industry and the European Commission, demonstrating the benefits of a collaborative approach.
“This collaborative approach at EU level is the best way to ensure consumers get the information they need in the most effective and efficient way, further empowering them when making purchasing choices," Patricia Callan, Director of ABFI said.
"Our industry is proud of the products it makes and this ground-breaking commitment highlights the role we can play to inform consumers and help governments and regulators meet their policy goals."
Spirits MoU
On the 5 June, the ABFI signed a MoU to ensure that moving forward, European spirit companies print energy information on the labels of products along with providing online ingredient listings including raw materials used.
The MoU was also signed by the sector’s European trade association, spiritsEUROPE, and a number of other trade groups and companies.
According to the statement, the provision will see that one quarter of spirits bottles placed on the EU market will include energy labels by next year, rising to two thirds by 2022.
© 2019 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.
