Food labelling: the 12 mandatory mentions of the INCO Regulation
Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers — known as the INCO Regulation — defines 13 mandatory mentions that every food product label marketed in the European Union must display. A single omission can block market access or trigger a product recall. This guide details each requirement with size criteria, legibility rules and the most common pitfalls.
1. Product name (sales denomination)
The sales denomination is the legal name of the product. It cannot be replaced by a trade name. For processed products, the denomination must accurately reflect the nature of the food and its processing state (e.g. "smoked salmon fillets", not "traditional salmon").
If a denomination is regulated by a sector-specific text (jam, cheese, cured meat, etc.), this legal denomination takes precedence.
2. Ingredients list
The list must begin with the word "Ingredients:" and present components in descending order of their weight at the time of manufacture. Compound ingredients must be broken down in parentheses if their proportion exceeds 2% of the finished product.
Additives are designated by their functional category followed by their specific name or E number (e.g. "emulsifier: soy lecithin" or "emulsifier E322").
3. Allergens — mandatory mention in distinguished characters
The 14 major allergens defined in Annex II of the INCO Regulation must be highlighted in the ingredients list by a distinct typographic means (bold, italic, underline, different colour):
- Cereals containing gluten (wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt, kamut)
- Crustaceans and products thereof
- Eggs and products thereof
- Fish and products thereof
- Peanuts and products thereof
- Soybeans and products thereof
- Milk and products thereof (including lactose)
- Nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, pecans, pistachios, etc.)
- Celery and products thereof
- Mustard and products thereof
- Sesame seeds and products thereof
- Sulphur dioxide and sulphites (> 10 mg/kg or 10 mg/L as SO2)
- Lupin and products thereof
- Molluscs and products thereof
4. Net quantity
The net quantity is expressed in volume units (litres, centilitres, millilitres) for liquids, and in mass units (kg, g) for solids. It must be placed in the same visual field as the sales denomination and the brand.
| Net quantity | Minimum digit height |
|---|---|
| ≤ 50 g or 50 ml | 2 mm |
| 51 g – 200 g or 51 ml – 200 ml | 3 mm |
| 201 g – 1 kg or 201 ml – 1 L | 4 mm |
| > 1 kg or 1 L | 6 mm |
5. Best before date (BBD) or Use by date
The BBD ("Best before...") applies to microbiologically stable products. The Use by date ("Use by...") applies to highly perishable products likely to pose an immediate health risk after that date.
Products with a BBD exceeding 3 months may indicate only the month and year. Beyond 18 months, the year alone is sufficient.
6. Storage and usage conditions
Mandatory for foods requiring special storage conditions (e.g. "Store between 0°C and 4°C" or "Store in a cool, dry place"). They must appear close to the BBD or Use by date.
7. Name and address of the food business operator
The name and address of the food business operator under whose responsibility the food is marketed. For products imported from outside the EU, the name of the importer established in the Union must appear.
8. Country of origin or place of provenance
Mandatory for fresh, chilled and frozen beef, pork, sheep, goat and poultry meat. Also mandatory when its absence could mislead the consumer about the true origin of the product. For other categories, the mention is voluntary but regulated if present.
9. Instructions for use
Mandatory if its absence would make correct use of the food difficult. Examples: cooking time and temperature, dilution for concentrates.
10. Alcoholic strength by volume (alcoholic beverages)
For any beverage with more than 1.2% vol., the alcoholic strength must be expressed with at most one decimal, followed by the symbol "% vol.". It may be preceded by "alcohol" or "alc.".
11. Nutrition declaration
Mandatory since 13 December 2016. It must be presented in tabular format and include, in this order: energy value (in kJ and kcal), fat, saturates, carbohydrate, sugars, protein, salt. All values are expressed per 100 g or 100 ml. A "per portion" declaration may supplement the per 100 g/ml declaration but does not replace it.
12. Legibility and field of vision
All mandatory information must be printed so as to be clearly visible, legible and indelible. The minimum x-height is 1.2 mm (0.9 mm for packaging with a surface area less than 80 cm2). They cannot be obscured by other mentions, illustrations or intercalated information.
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LabelCheck automatically analyses your artwork or label image and verifies the 12 mandatory INCO mentions, allergens, nutrition declaration and compliance with EU Regulation 1169/2011.
Analyse my label →Frequently asked questions
Does a product sold only in France have to comply with the INCO Regulation?
Yes. Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 is directly applicable in all Member States since 13 December 2014. The DGCCRF is the enforcement authority in France. Violations are subject to administrative and criminal penalties.
Can a QR code replace mandatory information?
No. The INCO Regulation prohibits referring to a digital medium for mandatory information. The information must physically appear on the packaging. QR codes can supplement mandatory information but do not replace it.
Are products sold loose (non-prepacked) subject to the INCO Regulation?
Partially. Non-prepacked foods are subject to lighter information obligations defined by national legislation. Allergens however remain mandatory, communicable orally or by display.