Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) is urging companies to get up to speed with the latest regulations to avoid the risk of prosecution.
Butchers are among those businesses expected to comply with the updated European Commission regulations which will come into force on 12th December 2014 and will set out the requirements for what must, and can be noted on a food label.
They will also specify the allergens and nutritional information that should be included as well as stipulate the size and layout requirements of the details displayed on the packaging.
Over the coming months, a series of accredited training courses will be delivered across Wales by The Welsh Food & Drink Skills Project, which will explain the demands of the new labelling laws imposed on food and drink businesses.
“We would encourage all butchers to attend a training course so that they are fully acquainted with the new requirements,” said Siôn Aron Jones, HCC’s industry development manager. “Labels that do not include the information stipulated in the new regulations will not be permitted after 12th December 2014.”
Failure to provide the required details and the provision of inaccurate and incomplete information will be considered an offence and could result in prosecution by Trading Standards.
The training course – Level 2 Food Labelling – will be offered at a discounted price of £42 + VAT per person for eligible businesses due to funding support through The Welsh Food & Drink Skills Project.
Caryl Tudor Jones of the Welsh Food & Drink Skills Project, said: “The project offers a unique opportunity for businesses to access accredited training, tailored to the food industry, with up to 70% grant funding. The Food Labelling course will help butchers and other food businesses understand how the new regulations will affect them and what they will need to do – from explaining the information that needs to be displayed on the labels to calculating the nutritional information in a recipe.”
To register for Food Labelling training, and to learn about other accredited training courses on offer, including Running a Food Outlet and ‘Scores on the Doors’ Food Hygiene rating, contact The Food & Drink Skills Project Team at Lantra on 01982 552646 or visit www.foodanddrinkskills.co.uk
This story was originally published on a previous version of the Meat Management website and so there may be some missing images and formatting issues.
