These Principles apply to the establishment of Codex Nutrient Reference Values (NRVs) for the general population identified as individuals older than 36 months. These values may be used for helping consumers 1) estimate the relative contribution of individual products to overall healthful dietary intake, and 2) as one way to compare the nutrient content between products. Governments are encouraged to use the NRVs, or alternatively, consider the suitability of the general principles below including the level of evidence required, and additional factors specific to a country or region in establishing their own reference values for labelling purposes. For example, at the national level, population-weighted values for the general population may be established by weighting sciencebased reference values for daily intakes for age-sex groups using census data for a country and proportions of each age-sex group. In addition, governments may establish reference values for food labelling that take into account country or region specific factors that affect nutrient absorption, utilization, or requirements. Governments may also consider whether to establish separate food label reference values for specific segments of the general population.

Some major highlights:

  • Application of nutrient declaration :Nutrient declaration should be mandatory for all prepackaged foods for which nutrition or health claims, as defined in the Guidelines for Use of Nutrition and Health Claims (CAC/GL 23-1997), are made.Nutrient declaration should be mandatory for all other prepackaged foods except where national circumstances would not support such declarations. Certain foods may be exempted for example, on the basis of nutritional or dietary insignificance or small packaging.
  • Listing of nutrients:Where nutrient declaration is applied, the declaration of the following should be mandatory:
    1. Energy value; and
    2. The amounts of protein, available carbohydrate (i.e. dietary carbohydrate excluding dietary fibre), fat, saturated fat, sodium5 and total sugars; and
    3. The amount of any other nutrient for which a nutrition or health claim is made; and
    4. The amount of any other nutrient considered to be relevant for maintaining a good nutritional status, as required by national legislation or national dietary guidelines6
    5. Calculation of nutrients

    The amount of energy to be listed should be calculated by using the following conversion factors:

    Carbohydrates 4 kcal/g – 17 kJ Protein 4 kcal/g – 17 kJ Fat 9 kcal/g – 37 kJ Alcohol (Ethanol) 7 kcal/g – 29 kJ Organic acid 3 kcal/g – 13 kJ

  • Specific features of presentation These recommendations related to specific features of presentation are intended to enhance the legibility of nutrition labelling. However, competent authorities may determine any additional means of presentation of nutrition information taking into account approaches and practical issues at the national level and based on the needs of their consumers. Format – Nutrient content should be declared in a numerical, tabular format. Where there is insufficient space for a tabular format, nutrient declaration may be presented in a linear format.Nutrients should be declared in a specific order developed by competent authorities and should be consistent across food products.Font – The font type, style and a minimum font size as well as the use of upper and lower case letters should be considered by competent authorities to ensure legibility of nutrition labelling.Contrast – A significant contrast should be maintained between the text and background so as to be that the nutrition information is clearly legible.
  • General Principles for establishing NRVs (Nutrient Reference Value):  Relevant daily intake reference values provided by FAO/WHO that are based on a recent review of the science should be taken into consideration as primary sources in establishing NRVs.

For More Details Visit:http://www.codexalimentarius.org/