toidumärgistust

Toidumärgistus is the information provided on food products and their packaging to inform consumers about the product’s identity, ingredients, nutrition, safety, and provenance. The system is governed by European Union rules, most notably Regulation (EU) 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers, which Estonia implements through national legislation and enforcement. Labels must be accurate, legible, and retained for the life of the product.

On prepacked foods, the label must include several core elements: the name of the food, a list of ingredients in descending order by weight, the quantity of certain ingredients or substances that give the product its character, the net quantity, the date of minimum durability or use-by date, storage and handling instructions, and the name and address of the food business operator. For certain products, the country of origin or provenance must be indicated. A nutrition declaration is mandatory for most prepacked foods, providing energy value and amounts of fat, saturates, carbohydrates, sugars, protein, and salt per 100 g or per 100 ml, with optional per-serving values. Allergen information must be clearly indicated, typically by emphasising the relevant ingredients in the list or in a separate allergen statement.

For foods not prepacked, labeling requirements are adapted, with essential information made available to consumers at the point of sale, including allergen details. The official labeling language in Estonia is Estonian, with other EU languages permitted where appropriate.

Enforcement is carried out by national authorities in Estonia in line with EU rules. Consumers can report mislabeling or non-compliance to the responsible authorities.