Particle.news
Download on the App Store

France Moves to Mandatory Nutri-Score, With Exemption for AOP/IGP Foods

Deputies approved a 5% non‑display penalty, with rollout contingent on decrees, Senate scrutiny, EU compatibility checks.

Overview

  • The National Assembly voted on November 7 to require Nutri-Score front‑of‑pack labels nationwide, replacing the current voluntary scheme seen on roughly 60% of products.
  • Products bearing official quality signs such as AOP, AOC or IGP are excluded, with the precise scope to be set by government decree.
  • Companies that fail to display the label would face a sanction equal to 5% of turnover, with proceeds directed to the national health insurance system, according to La Dépêche.
  • Health Minister Stéphanie Rist warned of potential conflicts with EU law, and the measure still faces examination within the broader Social Security budget and by the Senate.
  • Producers of protected‑terroir cheeses welcomed the carve‑out as preserving traditional recipes, while consumer group UFC‑Que Choisir criticized the exemption as unrelated to nutritional quality.