Dutch food labels remain mandatory in the Netherlands

The requirement to provide food information in Dutch remains in force. The cabinet makes this clear in a letter to Parliament concerning a motion adopted during the 2025 General Financial Debates. The motion was intended to make food more affordable, but in practice has proven unworkable. European rules and concerns about consumer protection play a decisive role in this assessment.

Alignment with European rules

The motion called for scrapping the requirement for Dutch-language labels. According to the cabinet, however, current practice aligns with European legislation. The European regulation on food information states that labels must be available in a language that consumers can easily understand. In the Netherlands, that language is Dutch.

The cabinet states that this requirement cannot be viewed in isolation from European agreements. Changes would only be possible through an amendment to European legislation. That option is not available at this time.

Concerns about readability and health

Several factors were weighed in assessing the motion. These included administrative burdens, legal feasibility, and the impact on consumers. Removing Dutch-language labels could result in food information that is not easily readable for consumers. This is considered undesirable, particularly in view of public health. In addition, the cabinet expects that lifting the requirement could actually lead to increased regulatory pressure. That consideration also factors into the decision not to implement the motion.

No replacement through QR codes

The parliamentary letter also addresses digital alternatives. At European level, discussions have recently taken place on whether mandatory label information could be replaced by QR codes. In 2024, the European Union expressed a negative position on this option in the context of Codex.

The cabinet indicates that it will continue to raise the topic of labeling at the European level. The food industry will also be involved, including in discussions on online information and shelf information. For now, the current approach to food labeling remains unchanged.

Source: Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport