FIR Regulations

Was offered a place on a course regarding the new FIR regulations today for a mere 300 euro. A snip! Could we please start a forum dedicated to this new labelling legislation? It may save all posters the anguished howls of desperation come November, especially those who can't afford 300 euro! The UK seem to have set out their stall early with an excellent reference document, but does anyone know if this is in line with the rest of the EU or if the Irish government have plans to introduce any guidance? Thanks. 

There are subtle differences in interpretation.  I've found the retailers have led the way and, if you are supplying under retailer brand, you should follow their guidance as strictly speaking it's their label but we've found different retailers and different countries doing different things!

What do you want to know?

Was offered a place on a course regarding the new FIR regulations today for a mere 300 euro. A snip! Could we please start a forum dedicated to this new labelling legislation? It may save all posters the anguished howls of desperation come November, especially those who can't afford 300 euro! The UK seem to have set out their stall early with an excellent reference document, but does anyone know if this is in line with the rest of the EU or if the Irish government have plans to introduce any guidance? Thanks. 

Not just FIR, but I will set up one dedicated to labelling in general, leave it with me.

Thanks, Simon. For anyone supplying the retail industry, these regs will be expensive with little or no room for error. 

I guess, GMO, my main concern is how independent European states will implement the grey areas. I'm following the UK guidance at the moment, as we export to the UK. My major concern is that the spud munchers in Dublin will decide to "think outside the box", or something equally terrifying. We may also start exporting to France shortly, and God know what they'll do, bless 'em.  

Dear All,

I presume this is the what the cryptic acronym is referring to -

http://www.food.gov....ws/2011/dec/fir

Rgds / Charles.C

I've downloaded this handy little reference document

Caz x

Charles C... not exactly.  What some people refer to as the FIR is the Food Information Regulation for Consumers (EU law) the FSA page is referring to the Food Information Regulation which is the UK application of this law.  Some people are now calling the EU law 'FIC' and UK 'FIR' to stop the confusion.

I had the Campden training earlier in 2013 and there was still some things up in the air then and also I've spotted errors from retailer labels.  I've also found TSOs largely clueless and they were only getting trained towards the end of last year, start of this.  Worryingly in my course there were a mountain of labels to chose from which had 'tried' to be compliant and failed.  We've had some tasty arguments at work as well on interpretation too!

Hi It is surprising how many companies are yet to realiser that FIR is coming and coming soon.

You are right, come November we will see some seriously interesting examples of last minute panic, after all we've only had since November 2011 to get ready.

I am not sure the cost of the course, at the moment, is stopping people gaining an understanding.

We offer a course at £100 and if you are in Wales you may qualify for 70% funding making the cost £30.

And that still appears a prohibitive cost.

The smaller companies are yet to understand that the new legislation will affect them.

Most supermarkets are well on their way through their FIR complaint process, and as expressed earlier each has slightly different ways of applying the regulation.

But given the lack of understanding by TSO, the lack of resource to 'police' the new requirements it is going to be an interesting transition.

rgds

Where about in Wales are you running the courses Ian?

Caz

Hi Caz

if you send me your e-mail address I will send you the details.

We are running a course in North Wales in Feb, but will arranging more late in the year

rgds

Hi Caz

 

if you send me your e-mail address I will send you the details.

We are running a course in North Wales in Feb, but will arranging more late in the year

 

 

 

rgds

Dear IanR,

Apologies but can you pm the email address to Caz ?. it acts as a bait for spammers.

Rgds / Charles.C

Could we please start a forum dedicated to this new labelling legislation? It may save all posters the anguished howls of desperation come November. 

Dear Shea Quay, this topic is now in a new dedicated forum for labels and labeling.

I also moved a load of old topics on the subject to keep your topic company. :smile:

Thanks for the good idea.

Many thanks, Simon, and many thanks to the contributors who have made the word "HOT" appear besides my name, my self esteem has been a bit low recently, so this has been a great help. 

First question......will all nutritional info have to be in tabular form? I understand that linear form will no longer be accepted. Currently we use two columns for our nutritional. Will this still be acceptable of is the singular column form the only acceptable option? 

While I would love to attend Ian R's course, I was involved in an incident in a nightclub in Buckley a number of years ago. Suffice it to say, I can never go back to North Wales. 

Tabular is preferred, linear is permitted in very strict space circumstances (and that doesn't mean just because the marketing bumf fills it up) but IME everyone is going tabular.  The order is changing too.

As I said, it's a mine field.  I suspect TSOs will be pragmatic but that can't be guaranteed.  It used to be you could ask your TSO for advice, now at least in my area of the UK, that costs money.  Joy.  What are TSOs there for?  To try and prevent consumers being misled (i.e. answering advice would be good) or as a money making scheme out of industry (so they refuse to give advice then prosecute which ironically probably wastes more money.)  

Anyone else sensing a lack of joined up thinking...?

One thing to be wary of is there will be a BIG rush in the last half of the years for printers along with the normal level of seasonal pack requests.  Get your training and pack change process going NOW!  You might miss the deadline otherwise due to lack of printer capacity.

I've recently been on Campden BRI's Labelling course with regards to the upcoming regs. It was a good course that gave me lots to think about.

How is everyone getting on with their prep?