On 4 March 2015 Royal Decree 126/2015, of 27 February, approving the general law relating to the food information of unpackaged food for sale to the end consumer and to groups, of packaging at points of sales at the request of the purchaser, and of packaging used by retail traders was published in the B.O.E. (Official Government Gazette).

The approved Royal Decree seeks to improve the food information offered to consumers, at the same time ensuring the flexibility necessary for responding to the different modes of supply of unpackaged food. It maintains the food information requirements for unpackaged foods already contained in Royal Decree 1334/1999, of 31 July, approving the general rule for the labelling, presentation and advertising of food products.

It furthermore establishes a minimum font size for use on the labels of products packed by retail traders, and regulates the information of foods covered by the rule in the cases of selling by means of distance communication, in line with the provisions of Regulation (EU) 1169/2011.

The new Royal Decree regulates the forms of food information on the presence of ingredients that cause allergies and intolerances, which for the first time are required in the case of food that is sold unpackaged or that is packaged at the point of sale (retailer, catering trade). In addition, it permits, in certain cases, the transmission of information on the ingredients that cause allergies and intolerances to be made orally subject to compliance with certain additional requirements that serve to guarantee that this information is verifiable, thereby ensuring a high level of protection for consumers.

In short, this Royal Decree will result in an improvement of the information made available to consumers and of the quality of service provided by the establishments concerned.

Royal Decree 126/2015, of 27 February, approving the general law relating to the food information of unpackaged food for sale to the end consumer and to groups, of packaging at points of sales at the request of the purchaser, and of packaging used by retail traders.

Royal Decree 126/2015 contains an error in the text of article 6, section 5, as follows:

Where the text states “article 4.2”

it should state “article 4.1.b”

Correction of errors of Royal Decree 126/2015, of 27 February, approving the general law relating to the food information of unpackaged food for sale to the end consumer and to groups, of packaging at points of sales at the request of the purchaser, and of packaging used by retail traders.

AECOSAN has drawn up a Guide to the application of the food information requirements for unpackaged food for sale to the end consumer and to groups, of packaging at points of sale at the request of the purchaser, and of packaging used by retail traders.

The objective of this Guide, based in part of the document Allergen information for loose foods of the British Food Standard Agency, is to help food business operators and the authorities responsible for official control, understand and apply Royal Decree 126/2015, of 27 February. However, it does not hold any legal value and, in the event of conflict, the interpretation of the legislation falls to the Courts of Justice. The present Guide should be consulted in relation to the afore-mentioned Royal Decree and with Regulation (EU) 1169/2011, of 25 October, on the provision of food information to consumers.