EUROPE – European beer producer have committed to add ingredients and calorie information on all beer bottles and cans in the EU market by 2022.

This follows the recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the brewers and the European Commission to provide clear information regarding ingredients and energy values on labels.

The voluntary MoU was officially signed by the Brewers of Europe – which brings together national brewers’ associations from 29 European countries – on behalf of the representative body for drinks manufacturers and suppliers in Ireland.

According to Patricia Callan, director of Drinks Ireland, brewers in the Irish market have been rolling out ingridients and energy labeling on a voluntary basis.

The new commitment, she notes, demonstrates “a strong commitment by brewers in Ireland and across the EU to provide this information, with ambitious timelines for delivery.”

Pavlos Photiades, president of The Brewers of Europe, said: “This is a significant step in a process we started four years ago, demonstrating our members’ ambition to ensure all beers label ingredients and calories.

“Fulfilling this commitment, Europe’s brewing sector is meeting the expectations of consumers on how alcoholic beverages should be providing ingredients and calorie information.”

Thirty-seven initial signatories, including 25 national brewers’ associations, have put their names to the MoU and the Brewers’ Ambition 2022, reports FoodBev.

“The purpose of the MoU is that companies take public responsibility for the declaration of ingredients and energy information on the labels of their products, whilst trade associations support these efforts including through setting local sectoral ambitions and collective reporting,” ​says the Brewers of Europe.

“The MoU is open to companies and associations from all alcoholic beverage sectors, provided that the signatory fully endorses the MoU and its commitment to the on-pack labelling of both ingredients and energy values.

“The ultimate wish is that consumers receive understandable, recognisable, comparable and accurate information for all alcoholic beverages.”

While beer is exempt from EU food labelling regulations, those who do provide such information voluntarily must follow the same rules as food and non-alcoholic beverages.