Digital Food Labeling

2024

Mandatory digital labeling of canned fish has started in Russia

On December 1, 2024, mandatory labeling of canned fish products began in Russia in accordance with a government decree published on the official portal of legal information.

According to TASS, 135 companies producing canned fish have registered in the Honest Sign labeling system. Revaz Yusupov, Deputy General Director of the Center for the Development of Advanced Technologies (CRPT), said that more than 5.1 million units of products with a special code were received on store shelves.

𝓲

Фото: Freepik

The head of the Federal Agency for Fisheries, Ilya Shestakov, stressed that the innovation will allow regulatory authorities to track all stages of the movement of fish products from catch to the counter, promptly identifying violations, including the substitution of expensive fish for cheaper ones.

According to Financial Research Institute the data (NIFI) Ministry of Finance and the Higher School of Economics (), HSE the share of illegal trade in the canned food market varies from 7% to 40%, depending on the product. To support manufacturers, he introduced CRPT compensation for 50% of the cost of the necessary equipment, for which about ₽10 million were allocated.

The All-Russian Association of Fishery Enterprises, Entrepreneurs and Exporters reported that in the first nine months of 2024, the production of canned fish in Russia reached 140.8 thousand tons, which is 3% more than in the same period in 2023. The production of canned food from crustaceans, mollusks and seafood increased by 74% - to 5.1 thousand tons, and the production of canned food in tomato sauce increased by 27% - to 46.2 thousand tons.

Primorsky Krai, Ryazan, Kaliningrad, Moscow, Vladimir regions and St. Petersburg became the leaders in the number of labeled canned fish. The CRPT noted that thanks to the Honest Sign labeling system, the share of illegal goods in the tobacco industry decreased by 25%, in the water market - by 33%, and the number of expired drugs decreased three times.^[1]

Ministry of Industry and Trade launches digital labeling of sweets and confectionery

Ministry of Industry and Trade Russia initiated a large-scale experiment on labeling with means of identifying a wide range of confectionery products and sweets in consumer packaging. This became known at the end of October 2024. The pilot project starts on December 15, 2024 and will last until August 31, 2025.

The corresponding draft government decree was published on the Unified Portal for the placement of draft regulatory legal acts. The document defines the procedure for conducting the experiment and a detailed list of products to be labeled.

𝓲

Фото: Freepik

The new labeling system will cover seven categories of confectionery. These include all varieties of chocolate products, including white chocolate, as well as cocoa-free sugar confectionery. The labeling will extend to flour confectionery - cakes, cookies, waffle plates and other bakery products with and without cocoa.

The list also includes sugar-preserved vegetables, fruits, nuts and fruit peels. The labeling will include jams, fruit jellies, marmalades, fruit and nut puree and pastes made by heat treatment with the addition of sweeteners. A separate item in the list is chewing gum.

The participation of manufacturers, importers and sellers of these products in the experiment is voluntary. Upon completion of the pilot project, the regulator will decide on the need to introduce mandatory labeling for certain categories of sweets and packaged confectionery.

The list also includes fruits, nuts and other edible parts of plants that have been preserved in various ways, including with the addition of sugar, other sweetening substances or alcohol. This category includes products that are not included in other classification groups.

The document specifically noted waffle seals, empty capsules for pharmaceutical use and rice paper, which will also enter the perimeter of the labeling experiment.^[2]

Mandatory digital labeling of canned food is launched in Russia

On May 27, 2024, the Russian government approved the mandatory labeling of canned food. Tracking of relevant food products will be carried out using the Honest Sign system operated by the Center for the Development of Advanced Technologies (CRPT).

Labeling is introduced from December 1, 2024. First, identification tools should appear on the packages of canned fish, caviar (except for red and black), its substitutes, seafood. From the same date, manufacturers of such products are required to send information about the entry of goods into circulation to the labeling system. From March 1, 2025, it is necessary to label most canned food from meat, meat offal, vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, berries and send information about their introduction into circulation.

𝓲

Фото: Unsplash

Canned farmers are included in the labelling system from March 1, 2026. Information in the withdrawal of products from circulation should be provided from October 1, 2026. At the same time, unrealized canned food that will be produced or imported into Russia before the date of mandatory labeling is allowed to be sold without QR codes until the expiration date.

As noted, TASS enterprises for the production of canned food, including, Bonduelle"," "" Kuban-tiJuno invest LTD Slavic Cannery, "" Green Ray - Kuban "and other companies included in the Union" Canned Kuban, "are preparing to introduce labeling directly on the lines with the support of CRPT specialists and integrators. QR codes can be applied to different types of packages, for example, tin banks or plastic containers. At the same time, as noted in the published requirements, the monitoring information system does not allow the re-generation (generation) of the marking code contained in the identification means.^[3]

Mandatory digital labeling of vegetable oils is introduced in Russia

At the end of May 2024, the Russian government approved the mandatory labeling of certain types of edible vegetable oils and fat and fat products. We are talking about sunflower, olive, peanut, palm and other oils.

The introduction of labeling of these products by identification means will be carried out in two stages. From October 1, 2024, the requirement will begin to apply to oils in glass and polymer packaging, and from February 1, 2025 - to oils in other types of packaging. Products will be monitored using the Fair Sign system marking tools operated by the Center for the Development of Advanced Technologies (CRPT).

𝓲

Фото: Freepik

Manufacturers and importers of vegetable oils are required to register in the Honest Sign system from September 2024. Information on the withdrawal of products from circulation should be transmitted to the system from November 1, 2025. From the same date, retail and wholesale enterprises will join the labeling.

The identification tool is applied in the form of a two-dimensional bar code in the Data Matrix format in accordance with the requirements of the national standard GOST R ISO/IEC 16022-2008. The marking code must be converted using ECC 200 error correction and an ASCII encoded character set. Moreover, the method of applying the identification means must ensure the safety (stability) of the identification means during the entire shelf life of the food product, subject to the storage and transportation conditions established by the manufacturer.

Russian market participants talk about their readiness to introduce labeling. Thus, Tatyana Zakharova, Marketing Director of VGMZ Sarepta LLC, notes that during testing for mustard oil, marking codes were applied that "are well read and clearly printed." And the Russian Olive company, which is part of the Amarant Agro NPH, states that "the process of registering, creating product cards, printing codes and applying them to packaging has gone smoothly."^[4]

Digital labeling of seeds and peppers is being launched in Russia

At the end of April 2024, the Ministry of Industry and Trade announced the upcoming launch of an experiment on digital labeling of groceries. In particular, we are talking about the following categories of products:

• dried onions (whole, in pieces, slices, in the form of powder) without further processing;
• other vegetables, dried (whole, in pieces, in slices, in the form of powder) without further treatment;
• pepper of the genus piper; fruits of the genus capsicum or pimenta, dried, crushed, ground;
• vanilla, cinnamon and cinnamon flowers, cloves, nutmeg, matsis and cardamom;
• seeds of anise, anise, fennel, coriander, cumin, juniper berries; ginger, saffron, turmeric, thyme, thyme, bay leaf, curry and other spices;
• other plants used in perfumery and pharmacy;
• ready-made cereal grain food products; crispy loaves;
• crackers, croutons and their analogues;
• other extruded or elongated products, spicy or salty; other bakery and flour confectionery products;
• unfrozen potatoes, with no vinegar added;
• products for making sauces and ready-made sauces; mustard powder and ready-made mustard;
• soups and broths, preparations for their preparation;
• vinegar and its substitutes.

𝓲

Фото: Unsplash

As part of the experiment, which will be held from July 1, 2024 to February 28, 2025, it is planned to test labeling mechanisms using various technical solutions for applying identification means to groceries, as well as work out the interaction of turnover participants with the information system used for the purpose of the experiment, and other issues related to the organization of labeling by means of identification of certain types of groceries provided for in the draft resolution. The Ministry of Industry and Trade reported that participation in the labeling experiment by means of identifying certain types of groceries is voluntary for manufacturers.^[5]

2023: Digital labeling of canned food launched in Russia

On December 1, 2023, an experiment on digital labeling of finished or canned products from meat, meat offal, vegetables and fruits, mushrooms and berries, fish and certain types of groceries will start in Russia. This became known in mid-November 2023.

According to RIA Novosti, citing a draft government decree published by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, an experiment on labeling canned food and a number of groceries (for example, chips, crackers, nachos and sauces) will last until August 31, 2024, participation in it is carried out on a voluntary basis.

Experiment on digital labeling of finished or canned products starts

The ministry stressed that this project involves testing the mechanisms for digital labeling of canned food in the country, as well as creating conditions for protecting the interests of manufacturers and buyers of such products.

In mid-November 2023, Revaz Yusupov, deputy general director of the Center for the Development of Advanced Technologies (CRPT, Fair Sign labeling operator), cited NIFI data from the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation, according to which the share of illegal trafficking in canned meat is 26%, fish - 11.5%, sauces - 40%, chips - almost 14%, and canned vegetables and fruits - 33%. Research by Roskachestvo also indicates a problem: about a quarter of canned food producers replace sprats with cheaper fish, he added. According to Yusupov, it is the sprawling illegal market for these products that is the basis of the authorities for a voluntary labeling experiment.

We are ready for it both from an expert and from a technical point of view. The experiment will not affect the cost of goods, because participation in it is voluntary and free for business. Among other things, this is an opportunity to take part in the formation of mandatory labeling requirements, if such a decision is made by the government, - explained the deputy head of the CRPT.[6]

Total Turnover Control System

• State Information System for Marking Goods
• Counterfeit Goods Monitoring System
• National Commodity Traceability System (NSP)
• CRPT: National Catalogue
• System of accounting (marking) of tobacco products
• Monitoring of Drug Product Movement
• Digital labeling of footwear products
• Mineral and potable bottled water labeling
• Labeling of dairy products
• RFID-labeling of alcohol in Russia
• Perfume labelling
• State system in the field of control over the turnover of precious metals, precious stones and products from them (GIIS DMDK)
• Marking of fur coats and fur products
• Animal labelling

• A system of total control of trade turnover is being created in Russia

Notes