- On May 28, 2026, the Codex Committee on Food Labeling (CCFL) rejected a proposal aimed at harmonizing the labeling of alcoholic beverages, following member state opposition.
- The proposal, led by Tanzania, the World Health Organization (WHO), and other African countries, sought to adopt labeling policies aimed to discourage alcohol consumption. by adding provisions clarifying when and how to disclose alcohol content by volume (ABV), how to handle labeling for nutrient content, and how to handle the inclusion of warning labels related to pregnancy and cancer. Specifically, the proposal recommended provisions that would require the alcohol content by volume (ABV) and nutrient content information of the product to be listed on the label, along with warning language disclosing the health risks associated with pregnancies and cancer. The proposal also recommended ways to avoid misleading health claims in association with alcoholic beverages (i.e., barring the use of wellness claims, adding criteria to limit the ability to use “low sugar” claims).
- The Codex Alimentarius is an international standards-setting body that develops global food standards. While its standards are not binding, countries often use Codex recommendations to shape their national policies.
- Opposition to the proposal, led by the United States and Mexico, argued that the proposed provisions would “impede trade, create technical challenges for industry, and contribute to consumer confusion.” Furthermore, the United States asserted that the proposal was an inappropriate use of the Codex by the World Health Organization (WHO) to advance its own Global Alcohol Action Plan 2022-2030, which aims to reduce global alcohol consumption by 20% by 2030. In the U.S., the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) proposed similar alcohol labeling policies in January 2025 that were later withdrawn following pushback from the alcohol industry.
- Keller and Heckman will continue to monitor and relay product labeling developments.