WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DIRECTIVE?
- Directive 2001/113/EC lays down the essential requirements for producing and marketing fruit jams, jellies, marmalades and sweetened chestnut purée intended for human consumption. It provides common definitions and rules for the products concerned to ensure their free movement throughout the European Union (EU) and to maintain high quality standards.
- Directive (EU) 2024/1438 amends Directive 2001/113/EC to stimulate product reformulation in the case of foods high in sugars and to facilitate the shift to healthy and sustainable diets.
KEY POINTS
Scope
- The directive covers the following products: jam, extra jam, jelly, extra jelly, marmalade, jelly marmalade and sweetened chestnut purée.
- It does not cover products intended for the manufacture of fine bakery wares, pastries or biscuits.
- The directive should be read in conjunction with other related regulations such as Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the labelling of foodstuffs.
- The products concerned are defined on the basis of their composition so as to ensure that the product names are used correctly in trade, and not in a manner that could mislead.
Labelling
- The product name is supplemented by an indication of the fruit or fruits used, in descending order of weight. For products manufactured from three or more fruits, the indication of the fruits used may be replaced by the words ‘mixed fruit’ or a similar wording, or by the number of fruits used. These details must appear in the same visual field as the product name and in clearly visible characters.
- In addition, the labelling of jams, jellies, marmalades and sweetened chestnut purée must include information on fruit content per 100 grams of the finished product, after subtracting the weight of water used in preparing the aqueous extracts, if appropriate.
- Directive (EU) 2024/1438 amends Directive 2001/113/EC to permit EU Member States where consumers use the term ‘marmalade’ as a synonym for ‘jam’ to authorise, on their territory, the use of the term ‘marmalade’ for the product name ‘jam’ in the case of jams from fruits other than citrus fruits. The term ‘citrus marmalade’ will replace the current ‘marmalade’.
Annexes to the directive
- Annex I defines each of the products and also sets the minimum quantities of fruit to be used for the manufacture of 1 kilogram of finished product. Amending Directive (EU) 2024/1438 introduces changes to Annex I by increasing the minimum fruit content in jams (from 350g per kg to 450g per kg) and extra jams (from 450g per kg to 500g per kg).
- Annex II establishes a list of authorised additional ingredients such as honey, sugar, fruit juice and certain spirits. Amending Directive (EU) 2024/1438 introduces some changes to this annex concerning the use of fruit juices and essential oils and of food additives authorised in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008.
- Annex III sets out definitions for fruit, fruit pulp, fruit purée, aqueous extracts of fruit and sugars, and how raw materials may be treated (dried, heated/chilled/frozen, concentrated or preserved in brine). Only the ingredients listed in Annex II and raw materials that comply with Annex III may be used in the manufacture of the products defined in Annex I.
Report
By 14 June 2027, the European Commission must present a report to the European Parliament and to the Council of the European Union providing an assessment of the feasibility of the different possibilities for labelling indicating the country or countries of origin where the fruit or fruits used to manufacture fruit jams, jellies, citrus marmalades and sweetened chestnut purée have been harvested. The report should be accompanied, where appropriate, by a legislative proposal.
FROM WHEN DO THE RULES APPLY?
- Directive 2001/113/EC had to be transposed into national legislation by 12 July 2003. Member States had to prohibit the marketing of products not complying with the directive from 12 July 2004.
- Directive (EU) 2024/1438 has to be transposed by 14 December 2025. The rules apply from 14 June 2026.
BACKGROUND
For further information, see:
MAIN DOCUMENTS
Council Directive 2001/113/EC of 20 December 2001 relating to fruit jams, jellies and marmalades and sweetened chestnut purée intended for human consumption (OJ L 10, 12/01/2002, pp. 67–72).
Successive amendments to Directive 2001/113/EC have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.
RELATED DOCUMENTS
Directive (EU) 2024/1438 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 amending Council Directives 2001/110/EC relating to honey, 2001/112/EC relating to fruit juices and certain similar products intended for human consumption, 2001/113/EC relating to fruit jams, jellies and marmalades and sweetened chestnut purée intended for human consumption, and 2001/114/EC relating to certain partly or wholly dehydrated preserved milk for human consumption (OJ L, 2024/1438, 24.5.2024).
Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 on the provision of food information to consumers, amending Regulations (EC) No 1924/2006 and (EC) No 1925/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Commission Directive 87/250/EEC, Council Directive 90/496/EEC, Commission Directive 1999/10/EC, Directive 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, Commission Directives 2002/67/EC and 2008/5/EC and Commission Regulation (EC) No 608/2004 (OJ L 304, 22.11.2011, pp. 18–63).
See consolidated version.
Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on food additives (OJ L 354, 31.12.2008, pp. 16–33).
See consolidated version.
Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods (OJ L 404, 30.12.2006, pp. 9–25).
See consolidated version.
