Germany Lets Non‑Citrus Fruit Spreads Be Called "Marmelade"

Overview

• A federal regulation implementing an EU amendment came into force on Sunday, June 14, 2026, allowing fruit spreads made from non‑citrus fruits to be labeled "Marmelade" while requiring citrus products to be labeled "Zitrusmarmelade" or by the specific fruit.
• The reform raises minimum fruit‑content rules for spreads from 350 to 450 grams per kilogram and raises the "Extra" grade threshold from 450 to 500 grams per kilogram to standardize composition across products.
• Provenance rules are tightened so mixed‑fruit spreads must list origin countries in descending order of share and mixed‑origin honey must name every source country with the weight percentage for each.
• Goods produced before the June 14 cut‑off may still be sold under old labels, giving manufacturers and retailers a transitional period to repackage or relabel inventory.
• The change reverses a decades‑old rule that traced to British negotiating influence in the 1970s and follows an EU update prompted during Brexit discussions and proposals such as Jakob von Weizsäcker’s 2017 initiative.