A massive 238-page document for public comment has been gazetted by the department of health suggesting several changes to food labelling. The proposed changes – called the Regulations Relating to the Labelling and Advertising of Foodstuffs – affect farmers and agro-processors.
In a recent Gather To Grow session on Twitter, experts talk about food labelling rules and regulations, and what farmers and agro-processors should know.
According to Lisa van Zuydam, a qualified attorney and trade mark practitioner, when it comes to food labelling regulations, there is a push for South Africa to become more in line with the position of other countries such as Europe.
Push for more information
“There’s a push from government departments to ensure that there is sufficient information provided on labelling so that the consumer at the end of the day is able to obtain the required information. As well as ensuring that there is not misleading statements and claims on products, and also that there is this very fine line between what is considered health products, medicines, and foodstuffs,” she says.
Zuydam also unpacks what South Africa’s current position is on food labelling, challenges around these regulations, guidelines for what information should be on labelling and more.
What about imports and exports?
Another aspect is the origin of products. When it comes to importing food products, a delineation is made between a single-composition food product and a compounded product.
In the session, Craig Murrell, Agri Enterprises’ head of advisory services, makes an example of grapes.
“With grapes (single composition product) you have to list exactly what the country of origin is. When you’re not importing a single composition fruit there is still a little wiggle room that you are allowed.”
He unpacks this in more detail, adding that there are still issues that the draft regulations around food labelling are not yet addressing.
Experts agreed that the existing regulations to protect South Africans and consumers could see some of their favourite products being taken off the shelves because they do not comply with the new standard.
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