Selling food in Germany and France: labels, language and who is responsible
By Drew Cooper, Founder & CEO · Last reviewed: 12 November 2026
Food sold in Germany and France must follow the EU Food Information to Consumers Regulation (EU) 1169/2011. The label must be in German for Germany and French for France, and must name an EU business responsible for the food. US labels almost always need redesigning: the nutrition panel, units, allergen format and date format all change, and some US additives are not permitted in the EU.
Who this guide is for
Overseas food and drink brands, including snacks, confectionery, sauces, beverages and food supplements, planning to sell in Germany, France or both, through retail, Amazon or their own website.
1. Who is responsible for the food
Under Article 8 of the Regulation, the business responsible for food information is the one under whose name the food is marketed. If that business is not established in the EU, the importer into the EU is responsible. In practice, the label must carry the name and address of an EU food business. A US address on its own is not enough.
Products of animal origin, such as meat, dairy, fish, egg and some composite products, must also enter the EU through a border control post with the correct health certificate, from an approved establishment.
2. What must be on the label
- Name of the food
- Ingredients list, in descending order of weight
- The 14 EU allergens, emphasised within the ingredients list (for example, in bold)
- Quantity of certain ingredients (QUID), where named or pictured
- Net quantity in metric units
- Best before or use by date
- Storage conditions and instructions for use, where needed
- Name and address of the EU food business
- Country of origin, where required
- Alcohol strength for drinks above 1.2%
- Nutrition declaration per 100g or 100ml
Mandatory information must have a minimum x-height of 1.2mm, or 0.9mm if the largest surface of the pack is under 80 square centimetres. For distance sales, the same mandatory information, except the date, must be shown on the product page before purchase.
3. What changes from a US label
| US label | EU label |
|---|---|
| Nutrition Facts per serving | Nutrition declaration per 100g or 100ml in a fixed order: energy (kJ and kcal), fat, saturates, carbohydrate, sugars, protein, salt. Per serving can be added. |
| Sodium | Salt |
| Ounces and fluid ounces | Grams and millilitres; US units only as a supplementary indication |
| "Contains" allergen statement, 9 major allergens | 14 allergens emphasised in the ingredients list, including celery, mustard, lupin, molluscs and sulphites |
| "Best by" in month/day/year | "Best before" or "use by" in day/month/year |
| Structure and function claims | Only authorised nutrition and health claims under Regulation (EC) 1924/2006 |
4. Additives that cause problems
- Titanium dioxide (E171) has been banned as a food additive in the EU since 2022
- Potassium bromate, brominated vegetable oil and azodicarbonamide are not authorised in EU food
- Erythrosine (E127) is only allowed in a narrow set of foods
- Six colours (E102, E104, E110, E122, E124 and E129) need the warning that they "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children"
Additives must be listed by category name followed by their name or E number. Ingredients that count as novel foods, such as CBD, need EU authorisation before sale.
5. Language
Germany requires mandatory food information in German. France requires it in French. A bilingual German and French label is common and works well if every mandatory item appears in both languages and the legibility rules are still met. English can appear alongside, but not instead. Our packaging changes guide covers when over-stickers are acceptable.
6. National extras
- Germany: most single-use drinks bottles and cans carry a mandatory deposit and must be registered with the national deposit system and show its logo. Food supplements must be notified to the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) before first sale.
- France: food supplements must be declared to the DGCCRF before sale. Alcoholic drinks need the pregnancy warning pictogram. Household packaging needs the Triman sorting label.
- Both: packaging producer registration applies. See our Germany and France packaging EPR guide. Nutri-Score is voluntary.
7. If you also sell in the UK
Food sold in Great Britain must carry the name and address of a UK food business. A label for both markets therefore needs a UK address and an EU address. The UK and EU rules on additives, claims and novel foods are starting to diverge. For supplements, see our UK supplements guide.
Questions we get asked
Can I use an English label in Germany or France?
Only alongside German or French. All mandatory information must be in the local language.
Can one label work for both Germany and France?
Yes. Bilingual labels are common, provided every mandatory item appears in both languages and the text stays legible.
Whose address goes on the label?
An EU food business: you, if you have an EU entity, or your EU importer. A US address on its own does not meet the rules.
Can I ship direct to EU consumers from the US?
The labelling rules still apply, and the mandatory information must be on the product page before purchase. Parcels containing products of animal origin face strict import controls and are often stopped.
How Lantara helps
Lantara reviews and translates your labels for Germany and France, checks ingredients, additives and claims against EU rules, and sets up the EU responsibility your products need. Start with a free readiness check of up to 10 SKUs, or read about EU compliance.