The EU Fruit Juice Directive
The composition of fruit juices, concentrated fruit juices, dehydrated fruit juices and fruit nectars, their reserved names, their manufacture and labelling characteristics are subject to specific Community rules under Council Directive 2001/112/EC relating to fruit juices and certain similar products intended for human consumption. These products are defined on the basis of their composition and preparation processes so as to ensure that the terms are used correctly and not misleading. The Directive also defines particular designations used in certain countries and languages. The text lists the raw materials which may be used to manufacture juice and nectar, the minimum content of fruit juice and/or fruit purée in fruit nectar as well as all authorised additives.
This Directive was amended in August 2009 by the Commission Directive 2009/106/EC in order to be adapted to technical progress taking account of developments in relevant international standards, in particular the Codex Standard for fruit juices and nectars (Codex Stan 247-2005) and the AIJN Code of Practice for evaluation of quality and authenticity of juices.
The European Commission submitted a new proposal for the revision of the Directive in 2011 in order to bring it closer to the Codex Standard, but also to the current practices in Europe. The initiative for the second revision of the fruit juice directive comes from the European Commission’s DG Agriculture. The discussion first started in June 2009 in GREX*. After the discussions were finalised a draft proposal from DG AGRI was prepared and went through the Commission inter-service consultation. The adoption and transmission of the formal Commission proposal to the Council and the European Parliament took place on 21 September 2010. The European Parliament adopted on 14 December 2011 by a large majority the text of the new Directive. The text now has to be formally ratified by the Council of Ministers which is expected to happen in March 2012.
The legislation is a Directive which means that it is not directly applicable and has to be fully transposed into Member States laws. Strictly speaking operators must continue to comply with the current regulations until they are repealed and amended.
To read more about development of discussions and the current status of this dossier please click here.
* GREX – Group of National Experts for Marketing Standards