Promise – Delivered: European Producers Successfully reach Energy On-Pack Target as Part of Multiannual Labelling Commitment

 According to Director General of SpiritsEurope, Ulrich Adam, Europe’s producers of spirit drinks have successfully delivered on a 1st milestone commitment to provide a growing share of spirits sold in the EU with energy information on the label. "Our first Progress Report released on 5 May shows the sector succeeded in ensuring that, by 31 December 2020, around 1 in 4 bottles already featured such information, a share that is set to rise to 50% and 66% by the end of 2021 and 2022 respectively." Ulrich Adam mentioned.

Our targets are part of a multiannual voluntary agreement – the so-called Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Consumer Information – that was facilitated by the European Commission in 2019. The MoU provides us with clear guidance on how nutrition information and ingredient listings should be made available to consumers on spirit drinks, given that they are not mandatory under current EU rules.

1. Energy information on the label.

2. Digital nutrition information.

- QR code
- Barcode

The MoU has proven its value by providing the sector with an appropriate, harmonised long-term framework governing the provision of nutrition information & ingredient listing for spirits drinks sold in the EU. This, in turn, has enabled the sector to make rapid progress in the roll-out, bringing more and more labelled products to European consumers with SKU-specific information included which goes well beyond what is currently mandated by EU rules. 

"Despite the difficult market enviroment and tremendous challenges presented by the COVID-19 crisis in 2020, we are proud to report that the sector is on track in delivering on our labelling commitments and providing European consumers with the information they are looking for."

Christian Porta, President of spiritsEUROPE

Source: spiritsEUROPE