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Foods for Specific Groups

Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 of the European Parliament and the Council on food intended for infants and young children, food for special medical purposes, and total diet replacement for weight control ('Food for Specific Groups') was adopted on 12 June 2013 and applied from 20 July 2016.

The categories of food under Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 for which specific composition and information requirements were established are: 

Regulation (EU) 609/2013 on food intended for infants and young children, food for special medical purposes, and total diet replacement for weight control aims to:   

  • ensure better consumer protection in relation to the content and marketing of:
    • foods for infants, young children, 
    • foods for special medical purposes,
    • total diet replacement for weight control;
  • provide greater legal certainty for businesses operating in the sector and for national authorities applying the rules;
  • simplify the regulatory framework by replacing rules that had become both complex and fragmented.

FSAI Guidance on the Implementation of Regulation (EU) No 609/2013

Guidance Note 38: Guidance for Foods governed under Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 - Foods for Specific Groups

Please note that all foods should still comply with general food laws such as Food Information to the Consumer (FIC) Regulation 1169/2011 and Nutrition and Health Claims Legislation 1924/2006 where appropriate.

Table 1: Key Dates for FSG Legislation

Date of application Action
22 February 2025

Statements related to docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on infant formula Regulation (EU) 2016/127

The statement ‘contains Docosahexaenoic acid (as required by the legislation for all infant formula)’ or ‘contains DHA (as required by the legislation for all infant formula)’ may only be used for infant formula placed on the market before 22 February 2025.
No date as yet  

Processed cereal-based foods and baby foods for infants and young children 

Current legislation (2006/125/EC) remains in force and further work is required to form draft legislation

Further information on foodstuffs that are no longer covered under this regulation can be found on the Background of FSGs and PARNUTs webpage.