General FAQs

ScanForFacts is an online platform that provides a cost-effective, modern and consumer-friendly solution for wine producers to comply with the new EU labelling regulations about the mandatory inclusion of the list of ingredients and nutritional declaration on each wine bottle’s label.

It also serves as an information gateway for consumers and retailers to reliably, intuitively and easily retrieve nutrition, sustainability, recycling and quality information about each wine.

ScanForFacts works by providing an easy-to-use platform for both wine producers and consumers:

  1. Wine producers create an account on ScanForFacts and enter relevant information about their wines, such as nutrition facts, sustainability practices, and technical characteristics. Based on the information entered, the platform can then generate a compliant e-Label and QR code for each wine, which can be printed on physical labels.
  2. Consumers can scan the QR code on a wine bottle’s label using their smartphones, which directs them to the wine’s e-Label page. This page contains information about the wine’s nutrition, sustainability and quality facts, allowing consumers to make informed choices.
  3. The ScanForFacts website also offers a search and filter feature for consumers and retailers. This functionality enables users to find wines that meet their specific dietary requirements, sustainability preferences, and desired wine characteristics. Users can then save or bookmark wines of interest for future reference.
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  1. Comply with EU Labeling regulations: Navigate the complex EU regulations surrounding wine labeling and create fully compliant high-quality e-Labels and QR codes for each wine.
  2. Preserve Valuable Space on the Physical Label: The platform enables producers to comply with EU labeling regulations without taking up valuable space on physical labels, allowing for more creative designs.
  3. Fast, Intuitive, and Cost-effective: ScanForFacts simplifies wine labeling, providing a fully self-service easy-to-use and cost-effective solution that saves time and resources.
  4. Appeal to Digitally Savvy Consumers: The platform caters to younger, tech-savvy consumers who expect to find product information online and appreciate modern digital solutions.
  5. Future-proof Solution: As wine labeling regulations evolve, ScanForFacts adapts to these changes, helping producers stay compliant and ahead of the curve.
  6. Showcase Sustainability Certifications: Producers can highlight their sustainability certifications and commitment to environmental responsibility, attracting environmentally conscious consumers.
  7. Information Control: With ScanForFacts, producers have control over how each wine’s information is shared on the web and communicated to consumers, ensuring accuracy and up-to-date details.
  8. Improve Consumer Trust and Brand Image: By providing easy access to essential wine information, ScanForFacts helps improve consumer trust and enhance a producer’s brand image.

Consumers using ScanForFacts enjoy several benefits:

  1. Access Accurate Information: By scanning the QR code on a wine bottle’s label, consumers can access accurate information about each wine’s nutrition and sustainability facts, allowing them to make informed decisions about the wines they consume.
  2. Customised Search and Filter of Wines based on Dietary Requirements: Users can search and filter wines based on their dietary requirements and sustainability preferences, making it easier to find suitable options that align with their values.
  3. Track Calories and Alcohol Consumption: ScanForFacts provides detailed nutritional information, enabling consumers to monitor their calorie intake and alcohol consumption, promoting responsible and healthy choices.
  4. Save and Bookmark Favorites: Consumers can save or bookmark their favorite wines for future reference, making it simple to recall and share top choices with friends and family.
  5. Enhanced Transparency: The platform promotes transparency in the wine industry, giving consumers a better understanding of the wine production process and its environmental impact.
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ScanForFacts is free for consumers to use.

Wine producers can choose from a range of pricing plans depending on their needs. To view the complete pricing options, please visit our pricing page.

We offer a complete self-service process for the creation of e-labels and QR codes. The summary of the steps to create an e-Label and QR code for your wine are as follows:

  1. Sign up for an account on the ScanForFacts website (If you haven’t already, do it now and get 3 e-Labels for free!)
  2. Choose a suitable pricing plan based on your needs and complete the purchase process.
  3. Navigate to the My e-Labels section under your Account.
  4. Click on the Create New e-Labels button to fill in the required information for your wine, such as nutrition declaration, ingredients, certifications and technical details. Ensure the information provided is accurate and up-to-date.
  5. Once all information is entered, click the “Create e-Label” button. ScanForFacts will then create an e-Label for your wine based on the information you entered and make it instantly available under the My e-Labels page in your account.
  6. From My e-Labels page in your Account, you can download the QR code for your e-Label and update your wine’s e-Label at any time after creation.
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Yes, you can update the information on an e-Label if there are changes in the wine’s details. ScanForFacts allows you to edit your wine’s e-Label at any time after creation. Simply log in to your account, navigate to the e-Label you want to modify, and make the necessary changes. This ensures that consumers always have access to accurate and up-to-date information about your wine.

As a consumer, accessing the e-Label of a wine using the QR code is a simple process:

  1. Open the camera app or a QR code scanner app on your smartphone.
  2. Point the camera at the QR code printed on the wine bottle’s label, ensuring the code is in focus and well-lit.
  3. Your smartphone will automatically recognize the QR code and provide a notification or pop-up with a link to the wine’s e-Label page.
  4. Tap on the link to visit the e-Label page, which will display detailed information about the wine, including nutrition, sustainability, recycling, and quality facts.

By following these steps, you can quickly access essential information about a wine and make informed decisions about your purchase.

Yes, ScanForFacts allows you to search for wines based on your dietary preferences, including vegan, gluten-free, and other specific requirements. The platform provides filters and search options that enable you to narrow down your choices according to your preferences, making it easier to find suitable wines that align with your dietary needs. This feature helps you make informed decisions and discover wines that cater to your individual preferences and lifestyle.

ScanForFacts is available for users worldwide. However, the platform is primarily designed to help wine producers comply with the EU wine labeling regulations.

Yes, the ScanForFacts platform is available in multiple languages. When wine producers input e-Label data in their preferred language, the platform automatically translates the information into 24 official EU languages based on the user’s geolocation. This feature ensures that consumers across the European Union can access wine information in their native language, enhancing their experience and facilitating better understanding of the wine’s details.

FAQs about EU Wine Labelling Regulations

With the introduction of Regulation (EU) 2021/2117, the European Union’s labeling requirements for wines are undergoing significant changes to enhance transparency and help consumers make informed choices. The main changes are:

  1. Mandatory inclusion of a list of ingredients: Wine labels must now include a complete list of ingredients, allowing consumers to understand the components of the products they purchase.
  2. Nutrition declaration: Alcoholic beverages, including wines, containing more than 1.2% alcohol by volume must now display a nutrition declaration on their labels. This provides consumers with information about the nutritional content of the beverage, such as energy values, fat, saturates, carbohydrates, sugars, protein, and salt.

These changes apply to wine producers within the European Union and imported wines from non-EU countries. The regulation aims to improve the transparency of information provided to consumers and enhance their ability to make informed choices about alcoholic beverages.

According to Regulation (EU) 2021/2117, the labelling requirements regarding wine and aromatised wine products will apply from 8 December 2023.

Wine meeting the previous labelling requirements and produced before 8 December 2023 can still be placed on the market until stocks are exhausted. It’s important to consult the regulation’s official text and any additional guidelines to ensure full compliance with the new requirements by the respective deadlines.

Yes, Regulation (EU) 2021/2117 affects the labelling of imported wines in the European Union. The regulation applies to wines and aromatised wine products marketed in the EU, regardless of whether they are produced within the EU or imported. All wines sold in the EU must comply with the new labelling requirements, including the mandatory nutrition declaration and ingredients list, once the regulation comes into effect on the respective dates specified for each provision. Importers should ensure that the wines they import meet the updated labelling requirements to avoid any compliance issues.

According to Regulation (EU) 2021/2117, the nutrition declaration for aromatised wine products marketed in the European Union must contain the mandatory particulars as specified in Article 9(1), point (l), of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011. This generally includes information about energy value, fat, saturates, carbohydrate, sugars, protein, and salt content.

However, there is a derogation for wines that allows the nutrition declaration on the package or label to be limited to the energy value only. In such cases, the energy value may be expressed using the symbol “E” for energy. The full nutrition declaration should then be provided by electronic means identified on the package or label attached thereto. The nutrition declaration must not be displayed with other information intended for sales or marketing purposes, and no user data should be collected or tracked.

According to Regulation (EU) 2021/2117, the list of ingredients for wines must include all the ingredients used in the production of the wine, listed in descending order of weight as they are used in the product.

For wines, this would typically include:

  1. Main Ingredient (Grape)Water (if added during the production process)
  2. Additives
  3. Any other ingredients used during the production, like sugar, yeasts, or other substances that are allowed in wine production under applicable regulations.

It’s important to note that processing aids, which are substances used during the production process but have no technological function in the final product, are not required to be listed in the list of ingredients.

Additionally, allergens must be indicated on the label, even if they are already included in the list of ingredients. For example, if a wine contains sulphites, it must have a statement like “contains sulphites” on the label.

In summary, the list of ingredients for wines should include all the ingredients used in the production, including additives and allergens, but not processing aids.

If you use ScanForFacts to provide the ingredients list and nutrition declaration electronically, you must still include certain information on the physical label:

  1. For the nutrition declaration, you must include the energy value (kcal) on the package or label attached thereto. The energy value may be expressed using the symbol “E” for energy.
  2. For the ingredients list, you must include the indication of the particulars referred to in Article 9(1), point (c), of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011. This should appear directly on the package or label attached thereto and comprise the word “contains” followed by the name of the substance or product as listed in Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, which refers to substances or products causing allergies or intolerances.

Please note that you will still need to comply with other mandatory labeling requirements, such as product name, alcohol content, net quantity, and any other information required by local regulations.

Yes, the nutrition declaration on wine physical labels can be limited to only the energy value. In such cases, the energy value may be expressed using the symbol “E” for energy on the package or label attached thereto.

However, if you choose to limit the nutrition declaration to the energy value on the physical label, you must provide the full nutrition declaration through electronic means, which can be identified on the package or label attached thereto. The following conditions must be met:

  1. The full nutrition declaration provided electronically should not be displayed with other information intended for sales or marketing purposes.
  2. No user data should be collected or tracked when accessing the full nutrition declaration electronically.

Keep in mind that other mandatory labeling requirements still apply, and you will need to comply with local regulations as well.

Non-compliance with EU labeling regulations regarding ingredients and nutrition declarations can result in a range of penalties or consequences for wine producers.
While the specific penalties may vary depending on the country within the EU, some common consequences include:

  1. Product recall: Non-compliant products may be required to be withdrawn from the market, which can be costly and disruptive to the wine producer’s business.
  2. Loss of export markets: Non-compliant products may be denied entry into certain export markets, limiting the wine producer’s ability to sell their products internationally.
  3. Fines: Wine producers may be subject to monetary fines for non-compliance with labeling regulations. The amount of the fine can vary depending on the severity of the violation and the country enforcing the regulations.
  4. Re-labeling costs: Wine producers may need to re-label non-compliant products, incurring additional costs for printing and applying new labels.
  5. Damage to reputation: Non-compliance with labeling regulations can harm a wine producer’s reputation among consumers and distributors, potentially leading to reduced sales and market share.
  6. Legal actions: Wine producers may face legal actions from consumers or competitors for non-compliant labeling, which can result in financial losses, legal fees, and damage to the producer’s reputation.

To avoid these penalties and consequences, it is essential for wine producers to stay informed about the latest labeling regulations and ensure that their products comply with all relevant requirements.

No, user data cannot be collected or tracked when accessing the nutrition declaration or ingredients list provided through electronic means, according to the EU labeling regulations. Specifically, when the nutrition declaration or ingredients list is provided electronically, it must meet the following requirements:

  1. No user data shall be collected or tracked.
  2. The information should not be displayed alongside sales or marketing materials.

The aim is to protect consumer privacy and ensure that the information provided is solely for the purpose of informing consumers about the product’s nutritional content and ingredients without collecting any data about them.

ScanForFacts can help wine producers to be compliant with the EU labeling regulations for ingredients and nutrition declarations by providing a platform that streamlines the creation and management of e-Labels and QR codes. Here’s how ScanForFacts can assist wine producers in this regard:

  1. User-friendly platform: ScanForFacts offers a user-friendly interface for creating, updating, and managing e-Labels and QR codes for wine products, making it easy for producers to provide the required information.
  2. Compliance guidance: The platform is designed with the EU labeling regulations in mind, providing guidance on the necessary information to include in the e-Labels to help ensure compliance.
  3. No user data tracking: ScanForFacts maintains a strict policy against collecting or tracking user data when consumers access the nutrition declaration or ingredients list through electronic means, which is in line with the EU regulations.
  4. Separation from marketing materials: The platform ensures that the nutrition declaration and ingredients list are not displayed alongside sales or marketing materials, adhering to the EU requirements.
  5. Easy access for consumers: By providing a QR code that consumers can easily scan, ScanForFacts makes the required information accessible in a convenient and efficient manner.

However, it is important to note that while ScanForFacts can help wine producers create and manage e-Labels to be compliant with EU regulations, it is ultimately the responsibility of the producers to ensure that the information they provide is accurate and compliant with the applicable regulations.

Disclaimer: While we've made every effort to offer accurate information in these FAQs, we strongly recommend that producers and platform users consult the official sources and regulations.


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