Cocoa and chocolate

The European Union (EU) defines a number of specific common rules for cocoa and chocolate products which complement the legislation applicable to foodstuffs. These rules concern composition, sales names, labelling and presentation.

ACT

Directive 2000/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 June 2000 relating to cocoa and chocolate products intended for human consumption [See amending act(s)].

SUMMARY

This Directive harmonises the labelling of cocoa and chocolate products, and establishes definitions for these products in order to enable consumers to make informed choices. It applies without prejudice to the general provisions relating to the labelling of foodstuffs.

Products concerned

This Directive applies to cocoa and chocolate products intended for human consumption as specified in Annex I to the Directive.

Composition

This Directive adopts the composition of cocoa and chocolate products. In particular, for certain products it determines the minimum percentage of cocoa butter which can be used. It also determines the possibility to use a quantity of vegetable fats which does not exceed 5 % of the end product. The vegetables fats (other than cocoa butter) which can be used are listed in Annex II to the Directive.

Labelling

Only products manufactured according to the compositional rules laid down by this Directive may be marketed under one of the following names (see Annex I to the Directive):

• cocoa butter;
• cocoa powder, cocoa;
• fat-reduced cocoa powder, fat-reduced cocoa;
• powdered chocolate;
• powdered drinking chocolate, sweetened cocoa, sweetened cocoa powder (possibly supplemented by the term fat-reduced);
• chocolate (possibly supplemented by the terms vermicelli or flakes, couverture, and gianduja);
• milk, cream or skimmed milk chocolate (possibly supplemented by the terms vermicelli or flakes, couverture and gianduja);
• family milk chocolate;
• white chocolate;
• filled chocolate;
• chocolate a la taza;
• chocolate familiar a la taza;
• chocolates or pralines.

The labelling of cocoa and chocolate products may include additional information. For example, the labelling of chocolate products containing vegetable fats other than cocoa butter must bear the statement contains vegetable fat in addition to cocoa butter in the same field of vision as the list of ingredients, clearly separated from that list.

The labelling of powdered chocolate, of sweetened cocoas, as well as of chocolate, milk chocolate, family milk chocolate, chocolate a la taza and chocolate familiar a la taza must indicate the total dry cocoa solids content. In addition, the labelling of non-fat and reduced-fat cocoas and powdered chocolate must indicate the cocoa butter content.

RELATED ACTS

Regulation (EU) No 1021/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directives 1999/4/EC and 2000/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Directives 2001/111/EC, 2001/113/EC and 2001/114/EC as regards the powers to be conferred on the Commission. [Official Journal L 287 of 29.10.2013].

Last updated: 20.05.2014