Market study on date marking and other information provided on food labels and food waste prevention : executive summary

European law (Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on Food Information to Consumers (the "FIC Regulation")) requires that most pre-packed foods display a date mark and accompanying wording that explains whether the date signals a threshold in the product's safety ("use by") or its quality ("best before"). The date mark is intended for use by consumers but also informs food chain operations, examples being retailers' stock management and food redistribution systems. This study has been carried out to help inform actions of the European Union (EU) to prevent food waste, as part of the Circular Economy Action Plan. The study examined the practical application of EU date labelling legislation and its implications for food waste prevention. The study's objectives were to: investigate food business operators' and national competent authorities' understanding and practices regarding information provided on food labels, especially date marking; assess the possible impact of these practices on food waste; and, in doing so, support the work of DG SANTE on date marking in relation to food waste prevention and, in particular, its dialogue with all actors on this issue. The study was contracted to ICF by the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (SANTE) of the European Commission. ICF worked in close collaboration with Anthesis and was supported by experts from Brook Lyndhurst and the Waste and Resources Action Programme (UK).