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EU considers extending mandatory country-of-origin labelling

The EU is considering expanding mandatory country-of-origin labelling to more food categories, but the scope of the potential rules remains undefined.

In the European Commission’s Vision for Agriculture and Food, published in February 2025, the Commission announced plans to propose extending country-of-origin labelling although it has still not revealed details of the scope.

At a glance:

• The EU considers expanding origin labelling to more food categories, but details remain undecided.
• Industry groups warn new rules could disrupt supply chains and raise costs for manufacturers.
• Broader labelling may improve transparency, but it could limit sourcing flexibility and consumer choice.

“[…] in line with the new way of working proposed in the Vision, the Commission intends to engage and consult with all relevant stakeholders before proposing any new measures,” a Commission official told Ingredients Network. “It is of utmost importance to make sure that any new labelling measures will be practicable, effective and avoid posing disproportionate administrative burdens on farmers and agri-food operators,” a Commission official told Ingredients Network.

As a result, the Commission confirmed they cannot provide further details on the specific elements of this initiative, including the exact timeline.

Existing EU mandatory country-of-origin labelling requirements already cover selected categories, including certain fresh meats, fishery products, fruit and vegetables, eggs, honey and olive oil. Current rules also set out instances in which an origin claim could otherwise mislead consumers.

Previous European Commission work has examined areas such as milk and milk used as an ingredient, meat and meat used as an ingredient, unprocessed foods, single-ingredient products, and ingredients that represent more than 50% of a food.

The idea is that extending the scope of food labelling requirements to all EU products could provide consumers with clearer, harmonised origin information. In turn, it could improve transparency and support informed purchasing decisions. Broader labelling requirements could also create an opportunity for food manufacturers to build trust and communicate responsibly about regional or local sourcing with their consumers.

Yet, the possible arrival of new labelling rules has sparked debate among manufacturers and trade groups over their potential impacts on supply chains, costs and consumer choice.

Industry calls for labelling extension rethink

In July 2026, FoodDrinkEurope, the trade association representing the European sector, urged the European Commission and member states to not pursue further extension of mandatory country-of-origin labelling, in part, because of the additional pressure it would put on food-chain operators.

At the AgriFish Council meeting, companies representing food manufacturers, trade and the hospitality sectors responded by outlining their concerns about extending country-of-origin labelling to additional food categories on a mandatory basis.

FoodDrinkEurope viewed the extension of mandatory origin requirements as a significant disruptor of integrated European supply chains, particularly for ingredient-processing industries, restaurants, caterers and other food service operators, where multi-origin sourcing and flexible procurement are vital.

FoodDrinkEurope also warned it would inevitably reduce sourcing flexibility throughout the food supply chain. Adaptability of sourcing decisions to seasonal availability, quality, price, sustainability requirements, climate-related disruptions and consumer demand is a critical element in the European food sector, it said.

If extended mandatory country-of-origin labelling is implemented, food and drink companies might implement less efficient food supply chains, resulting in more waste and increased energy and other resources. Separate storage facilities, production lines and transport operations to keep ingredients from different origins separate may be required. Rather than adding requirements, with ongoing cost-of-living pressures, the focus should instead be on competitiveness, resilience and food security as strategic priorities, FoodDrinkEurope said.

Transparency on traceability

Increasingly, consumers want to understand the origin of food products and their ingredients.

However, referencing previous studies commissioned by the European Commission, FoodDrinkEurope said these studies have found variation across food categories, geographies and population groups in the EU regarding tangible consumer interest. This was particularly the case when taking into account consumers’ willingness to pay.

In May 2025, the European Parliament published the Single Market Strategy, identifying labelling and packaging as among the “ten terrible barriers” hindering the smooth functioning of the single market. As a result, the European Commission is prioritising simplification to achieve a 25% reduction in burden across sectors.

“A measure extending mandatory country-of-origin labelling would contradict those efforts,” said FoodDrinkEurope.