Non-Tariff Barriers

Non-Tariff Measure

NTM classification

B31: Labelling requirements 

Date when the measure came into force

18 September 1977 

Publication where the measure is specified

Rhodesia Government Notice No. 181 of 1977 

Country/Region applying the measure

Zimbabwe 

The rationale of the measure

These regulations shall apply to soft drinks which is sold or manufactured for sale in Zimbabwe. 

Coded list of objectives

X: For purposes n.e.s. 

Description of the measure

4 (1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (2), every package containing a soft drink shall bear a label stating—
(a) the name of the contents of such package;
(b) the name and business address of the manufacturer or seller by, or on whose behalf; the contents were packaged;
(c) where applicable, the nature of any preservative present as may be required by the Preservatives Regulations;
(d) in the case of an article which is composed of 2 or more different ingredients, the names of the ingredients, set out in descending order in relation to their percentage of the total content;
(e) in the case of an article requiring dilution, the recommended dilution ratio;
(f) the packaging-number or the date on which the contents were packaged, or a code-number or mark which signifies such date.
(2) Carbonated soft drinks shall—
(a) in the case of a manufacturer who operates more than 1 plant for the production of such drinks, bear a label stating the name and business address of such manufacturer and the address of the manufacturing plant or shall bear a code-number or mark which signifies the name and the address of the manufacturer and the manufacturing plant;
(b) in the case of a manufacturer who operates 1 plant for the production of such drinks, be exempt from the requirements of paragraph (b) of subsection (1):
Provided that the registered trade mark is clearly visible;
(c) be exempt from the requirements of paragraphs (d), (e) and (f) of subsection (1).
(3) A manufacturer of a soft drink who uses a code-number or mark to signify the date of packaging shall, upon request by an inspector, divulge the date signified by the code-number or mark.
(4) Words which qualify the name or trade name of the contents of the package concerned, or are an essential part of the description thereof, shall be printed on the label referred to in subsection (1) in letters of the same size and prominence as those of the name or trade name of such contents.
(5) Unless otherwise provided for in these regulations, all information required by these regulations to appear on a label shall be clearly and prominently displayed, and printed in type no smaller than 6 point, and in such colour or colours as to afford a distinct contrast with the background:
Provided that, where the size or nature of the package concerned would render compliance with the provisions of this subsection impossible, the Secretary may authorize, in writing, that such particulars may be printed in smaller type, or be omitted.
(6) Any soft drink which, in its ready-to-drink form contains less than 6% by mass of fruit juice, or which contains synthetic flavouring, shall include on the label, in letters no smaller than 18 point, the words "IMITATION" (or "ARTIFICIAL" or "SYNTHETIC") or "FLAVOURED", and no pictorial design suggestive of any fruit shall appear on the label:
Provided that, in the case of carbonated drinks, the type-size specified in this subsection shall not apply, but the words "IMITATION", "ARTIFICIAL", "SYNTHETIC" or "FLAVOURED', as the case may be, shall be legibly displayed.
(7) No person shall, without the approval, in writing, of the Secretary, use on any label the word "vitaminized", "vitamin-fortified", "vitamin-enriched" or "enriched", or any other word capable of being construed as indicating that fortifying ingredients have been added to, or are present in, the contents of the package bearing such label.
(9) The word "fresh" shall not appear on the label of any package containing a soft drink, but it may be applied to juice sold within 2 hours of extraction.
(10) The word "real", "pure" or "natural", or any other word expressing a similar meaning, shall not appear on the label of any package containing a soft drink which contains any synthetic flavouring substance or any added colouring ingredient.
(11) The word "juice" may be used to describe a product only if that product consists of the undiluted juice of the fruit or vegetable in question:
Provided that salt or sugar, or salt and sugar, may be added.
(12) No wording, expression, design or illustration which constitutes a misrepresentation, or which can, directly or by implication, create a misleading impression, of the contents or its properties shall appear on the label or on the container or in any advertisement of any soft drink:
Provided that, where a name has been used throughout a period of not less than 30 years before the *date of publication of these regulations to describe any soft drink, the provisions of this subsection need not be complied with.
(13) No pictorial device suggestive of any fruit or vegetable shall appear on a package containing a soft drink unless the product contains not less than 50% of juice from the fruit or vegetable illustrated:
Provided that the provisions of this subsection shall not, in so far as they relate to a pictorial device, apply to the use of a trade mark registered in terms of the Trade Marks Act [Chapter 26:04], by a person who is the proprietor or registered user of such trade mark registered before the *date of publication of these regulations.
(14) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, the Secretary may, by notice in writing, exempt, for a specified period of time, any manufacturer or seller of soft drinks from compliance with the provisions of this section. 

Reference of the measure

Art 4(1) to (7) and (9) to (14) 

Measure also domestic

Yes 

Products affected by the measure.

Description

(1) Soft drinks (any liquid intended for sale as a drink for human consumption; other than a citrus juice or citrus drink as defined in the Food and Food Standards (Citrus Juice and Citrus Drink) Regulations, SI 182/1977, and includes—
(a) any juice or drink prepared from fruit or vegetables;
(b) any syrup, cordial, crush or squash;
(c) soda water, indian or quinine tonic water, or any artificially carbonated drink;
but does not include soft drinks intended for diabetics, low-calorific soft drinks, milk or any preparation of milk, tea, coffee, cocoa, chocolate, soup or alcoholic preparations;

(2) carbonated drinks (impregnated with carbon dioxide under pressure) 

Countries/Regions affected by the measure.

Description

All countries