Order of 14 March 2025: regulation of nutritional declaration

The order of 14 March 2025 marks a crucial step in the evolution of nutritional regulation in France. In response to the growing importance of food transparency and the need to inform consumers, this order establishes the rules governing the supplementary form of presentation to the nutritional declaration, as set out in Articles L. 3232-8 and R. 3232-7 of the Public Health Code.

By incorporating elements such as the Nutri-Score, this order aims not only to improve the clarity of the information provided to consumers, but also to strengthen confidence in foodstuffs. This nutritional labelling scheme addresses consumer concerns regarding health and nutrition, and underscores the authorities' commitment to promoting a balanced diet.

In this article, we will take a closer look at the key provisions of this order, the incorporation of the Nutri-Score into nutritional declaration practices, and the future challenges for stakeholders in the food sector and for consumers.

If you would like to engage a consumer law lawyer, contact me!

What are the main provisions of the order regarding nutritional declaration?

This regulation, set out in the order of 14 March 2025, is based on specific articles of the Public Health Code, in particular Articles L. 3232-8 and R. 3232-7. These articles govern the form of presentation of nutritional information, in order to ensure that consumers receive clear and accessible data on foodstuffs. The order provides that the supplementary form of presentation to the nutritional declaration must comply with a precise set of specifications, designed to facilitate the understanding of the information. Food product manufacturers and distributors must therefore comply with this new regulation in order to obtain authorisation to use the Nutri-Score, a nutritional labelling scheme intended to simplify food choices for the consumer.

The Nutri-Score, a nutritional assessment method, assigns scores to food products based on their nutritional quality. The conditions of use of the collective mark are strict and are designed to comply with public health standards and the fight against diet-related diseases. Thus, only foodstuffs meeting these requirements will be labelled, which is an essential element in ensuring transparency and reliable information for the consumer.

In addition to the transparency obligations, the order repeals the previous regulations, including the order of 31 October 2017 and that of 30 August 2019, thereby ensuring uniformity in the presentation of nutritional information. This change is a step towards continuous improvement of consumer information regarding their diet.

In short, these provisions mark a significant advance for food regulation in France, seeking to balance the need for accurate information on products with the protection of consumer health. This leads us to consider the incorporation of the Nutri-Score and its implications.

Let's discuss your needs for 15 minutes!

How is the Nutri-Score incorporated into the presentation of nutritional information?

The incorporation of the Nutri-Score into the nutritional declaration is at the heart of the new regulatory requirements established by the order of 14 March 2025. Under this order, the Nutri-Score labelling must accompany every nutritional declaration, thereby providing consumers with a visual assessment of the nutritional quality of food products. Articles L. 3232-8 and R. 3232-7 of the Public Health Code provide that the information supplied must be clear, legible and easy to interpret, and the Nutri-Score plays an essential role in achieving this objective.

The Nutri-Score is a scale that assigns a score ranging from A to E, depending on the nutritional quality of a product. Products with a score of A are considered the most favourable from a nutritional standpoint, whereas those with a score of E indicate lower quality. This intuitive classification allows consumers to make informed choices quickly, reducing the time required to analyse the often complicated detailed nutritional information.

This approach also aims to harmonise the various food product labelling practices, replacing existing systems often considered confusing or ineffective. Through its application, the order seeks to ensure that all stakeholders in the food sector comply with the same standards regarding the presentation of information. This uniformity helps to strengthen consumer confidence in the products they purchase.

Furthermore, manufacturers and distributors must ensure that the use of the Nutri-Score does not create conflicts with other nutrition or health claims that may appear on their products. This requirement is crucial to avoid any form of misinformation and to ensure that consumers receive reliable and non-misleading information.

Through the development and application of the Nutri-Score, the order of 14 March 2025 strengthens the framework for consumer information and helps to establish high standards for food quality. It remains to explore the challenges and prospects associated with the application of this order for all stakeholders concerned in the food sector.

I want reliable legal documents!

What are the challenges and prospects associated with the application of this order for consumers and food professionals?

The implementation of the order of 14 March 2025 gives rise to significant challenges for consumers as well as for food professionals. On the one hand, it strengthens the right of consumers to be informed in a clear and understandable manner about the foodstuffs they choose. The introduction of the Nutri-Score as a nutritional labelling tool embodies a step towards better nutritional education, enabling consumers to quickly assess the nutritional quality of products at a glance.

Moreover, this order forms part of a broader drive to promote public health. Nutritional education has become crucial in the face of the rise in diseases linked to an unbalanced diet. By using a standardised information method, such as that provided for in Articles L. 3232-8 and R. 3232-7 of the Public Health Code, the order aims to change dietary behaviour by encouraging healthier food choices among consumers.

For professionals in the food sector, the adoption of this regulation represents an operational challenge. Manufacturers and distributors must adjust their labelling and product information practices, which may entail additional costs. They must also ensure compliance with the new requirements in order to avoid penalties. However, this adaptation to the regulation may also offer an opportunity for continuous improvement of product quality, thereby encouraging companies to innovate and to offer healthier food alternatives.

In the long term, the order could contribute to the creation of a more responsible food market, where the transparency and integrity of the information provided to the consumer are central. By making information on nutritional quality more accessible and understandable, this order fosters the rise of responsible and informed consumption.

Thus, the challenges associated with the implementation of this order are extensive and made more complex by the interactions between the regulation, consumer expectations, and the strategies of food professionals. The framework established by the order may evolve, requiring ongoing attention to address future challenges in the food sector.

For further information, please feel free to consult the order on Légifrance: https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000051329233.