The Brewers of Europe and its members have signed an MoU, committing them to labelling ingredients and energy values on all beer bottles and cans in the EU by 2022.
Although beverages over 1.2 per cent ABV are technically exempt from ingredient and energy labelling requirements under EU regulations, in the last four years brewers have been voluntarily rolling out ingredients and energy labelling in accordance with Regulation (EU) 1169/20111. Today, 60 per cent of European of beer producers are already labelling calories, whilst 85 per cent of beers carry an ingredients list.
The Brewers of Europe said: "The purpose of the MoU is that companies take public responsibility for the declaration of ingredients and energy information on the labels of their products, whilst trade associations support these efforts including through setting local sectoral ambitions and collective reporting.
"The MoU is open to companies and associations from all alcoholic beverage sectors, provided that the signatory fully endorses the MoU and its commitment to the on-pack labelling of both ingredients and energy values. The ultimate wish is that consumers receive understandable, recognisable, comparable and accurate information for all alcoholic beverages."
There are thirty-seven initial signatories to the MoU and the Brewers' Ambition 2022, including 25 national brewers’ associations.
