The FIR regulates the labelling of food in the European Union (EU). It was adopted on 25 October 2011 as EU Regulation No. 1169/2011 and has been binding in all member states since 13 December 2014. This replaced the old Food Labelling Regulation (LMKV). With reference to Regulation No. 178/2002, food is "any substance or product intended or reasonably expected to be ingested by humans in a processed, partially processed or unprocessed state". The indication of the best-before date (use-by date) is not mandatory for wine.
Since 8 December 2023, wines, sparkling wines, fruit wines and aromatised wines have been treated as foodstuffs. This means that they must be labelled with a list of nutritional values and ingredients. All wine labels must include detailed information on nutritional values, additives and allergens. This labelling obligation applies not only to bottles, but also to price lists, online shops and other forms of ordering. See in detail under nutritional value.
Labelling of the alcohol content for drinks with more than 1.2% vol. is also relevant for wine. Last but not least, the fairness of the information practice (general prohibition of misleading information) must also be observed. For example, no health-related misleading labelling such as diabetic wine or health wine may be used.
See also under wine labelling law. Further information on wine law can be found under the keyword Wine Law, where a list of other relevant keywords on the subject is included at the end.
For my many years of work as an editor with a wine and culinary focus, I always like to inform myself about special questions at Wine lexicon. Spontaneous reading and following links often leads to exciting discoveries in the wide world of wine.
Dr. Christa Hanten
Fachjournalistin, Lektorin und Verkosterin, Wien