This is despite the Government issuing updated guidance to food producers, manufacturers, retailers and suppliers on the changes to food labels if the UK leaves the EU without a deal earlier this week.

The guidance broke down what changes need to be made on the packaging of products for export from 29 March 2019, if there is no deal agreed between the EU and the UK.

No-deal​

If there is no deal agreed, then exporters will have to: include an EU address for the business or importer; remove the EU organic label from its packaging; remove the EU emblem; replace EU oval health and identification marks with new UK health and identification marks and remove EU from the origin description.

Food products from the EU placed on the UK market have until 31 December 2020 to ensure its packaging and labelling meets the appropriate criteria in the event of a no deal.

A Food and Drink Federation (FDF) spokesperson told Food Manufacture​ that its members still feel in the dark over product labelling.

Prepare for Brexit​

“FDF is working with its members to help prepare them for Brexit. We polled our members and 49% of FDF members said that they have done everything they can to prepare for a ‘no-deal’ Brexit, but there are still key pieces of information that Government haven’t given them so these businesses cannot be sure that they have covered everything they need to.​

The spokesperson warned that labelling changes will be another cost during what is an expensive time for businesses.

“This is the case with labelling and the necessary changes to packaging that will need to be made. This will only incur further costs on top of what businesses are already spending in ‘no-deal’ preparations.”​