The Council regulation established the rules concerning the definition, classification into categories, designation and marketing of spreadable fats intended for the ultimate consumer.
- The new Community provisions had two aims:
. to help achieve the objectives of the common agricultural policy by guaranteeing the stability of the markets together with fair incomes for farmers;
. to protect consumers more successfully by providing them with a choice based on more complete information.
- The regulation applied to milk fats (butter) and non-milk fats (margarine) as well as to fats composed of vegetable and/or animal products with a fat content of at least 10% but less than 90% by weight, intended for human consumption.
- These products could not be supplied or transferred without processing to the ultimate consumer, either directly or through restaurants, hospitals, canteens or similar establishments, unless they met the requirements laid down in the regulation;
- The labelling and presentation of the products should indicate:
. the sales description as defined in the annex to the regulation;
. the percentage fat content by weight at the time of production;
. the percentage salt content, which should be indicated in the list of ingredients;
- The sales description could be used together with one or more terms to define the plant and/or animal species from which the products originated, together with the terms concerning the production methods;
- Indications of geographical origin could also be used with the sales descriptions;
- All the indications should be easy to understand, clearly legible and indelible;
- The term "traditional" could be used together with the name "butter" where the product was obtained directly from milk or cream;
- It was permitted to add:
. the term "reduced-fat" for products with a fat content of more than 41% but not more than 62%;
. the terms "low-fat" or "light" for products with a fat content of 41% or less;
- Within five years, the Council would review the application of certain elements of this regulation and, in particular, the use of the terms "light", "low-fat" and others;
The regulation would enter into force on 1 January 1996. Products on the market of a Member State on 31 December 1995 which did not meet the requirements laid down by the regulation could be supplied or transferred until 31 December 1997.
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