On front-of-pack labelling: the legal framework of the European Union

The thesis analyses the role of front-of-pack (FOP) nutrition labelling within the European Union’s legal framework, highlighting the main regulatory, interpretative, and market challenges, as well as the educational and harmonization opportunities that this tool presents. First, the thesis analyses the key legislative instruments currently governing the use of front-of-pack labelling, namely Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers, and Regulation (EU) No. 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims. These regulations establish the legal basis for the voluntary use of additional nutrition information, while setting conditions to ensure coherence, transparency, and legal certainty. The research then examines the different types of FOP labelling that have been implemented and proposed across the EU, distinguishing between nutrient-specific and summary labels. Finally, the innovative aspects of the work focus on the political and institutional process initiated at the EU level, starting with the European Commission communication com(2020)207 final, aimed at introducing harmonized and mandatory nutrition labelling at Union level. The aim is to reconstruct the legal and political reasons that led to delays in the presentation of the legislative proposal and to offer a forward-looking reflection on future European policies on food education and consumer information.