FDA has set January 1, 2020, as the uniform compliance date for new or amended food labeling regulations that are issued between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2018.
Use of a uniform compliance date provides for an orderly and economical industry adjustment to new labeling requirements by allowing sufficient lead time to plan for the use of existing label inventories and the development of new labeling materials.
All food products subject to the January 1, 2020, compliance date must comply with the appropriate regulations when initially introduced into interstate commerce on or after January 1, 2020. If any food labeling regulation involves special circumstances that justify a compliance date other than January 1, 2020, FDA will determine for that regulation an appropriate compliance date, which will be specified when the final regulation is published.
FDA’s action does not change existing requirements for compliance dates contained in final rules published before January 1, 2017. Therefore, all final rules published by FDA in the Federal Register before January 1, 2017, will still go into effect on the date stated in the applicable final rule.
