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1. The date of minimum durability shall be indicated as follows:

(a) the date shall be preceded by the words:

— ‘Best before …’ when the date includes an indication of the day,

— ‘Best before end …’ in other cases, (b) the words referred to in point (a) shall be accompanied by:

— either the date itself, or,

— a reference to where the date is given on the labelling, If need be, these particulars shall be followed by a description of the storage conditions which must be observed if the product is to keep for the specified period;

(c) the date shall consist of the day, the month and possibly, the year, in that order and in uncoded form. However, in the case of foods:

— which will not keep for more than 3 months, an indication of the day and the month shall be sufficient,

— which will keep for more than 3 months but not more than 18 months, an indication of the month and year shall be sufficient,

— which will keep for more than 18 months, an indication of the year shall be sufficient,

(d) subject to Union provisions imposing other types of date indication, an indication of the date of minimum durability shall not be required for:

— fresh fruit and vegetables, including potatoes, which have not been peeled, cut or similarly treated; this derogation shall not apply to sprouting seeds and similar products such as legume sprouts,

— wines, liqueur wines, sparkling wines, aromatised wines, and similar products obtained from fruit other than grapes, and beverages falling within CN code 2206 00 obtained from grapes or grape musts,

— beverages containing 10 % or more by volume of alcohol,

— bakers’ or pastry cooks’ wares which, given the nature of their content, are normally consumed within 24 hours of their manufacture,

— vinegar,

— cooking salt,

— solid sugar,

— confectionery products consisting almost solely of flavoured and/or coloured sugars,

— chewing gums and similar chewing products.

2. The ‘use by’ date shall be indicated as follows:

(a) it shall be preceded by the words ‘use by …’;

(b) the words in point (a) shall be accompanied by:

— either the date itself, or,

— a reference to where the date is given on the labelling, Those particulars shall be followed by a description of the storage conditions which must be observed;

(c) the date shall consist of the day, the month and, possibly, the year, in that order and in uncoded form;

(d) the ‘use by’ date shall be indicated on each individual prepacked portion.

3. The date of freezing or the date of first freezing as referred to in point 6 of Annex III shall be indicated as follows:

(a) it shall be preceded by the words ‘Frozen on …’;

(b) the words referred to in point (a) shall be accompanied by:

— the date itself, or,

— a reference to where the date is given on the labelling, (c) the date shall consist of the day, the month and the year, in that order and in uncoded form.