On January 4, 2021, the Food and Drug Administration announced that it would set January 1, 2024 as the uniform compliance date for final food labeling regulations that are issued in calendar years 2021 and 2022.

In its Federal Register publication of the rule, the FDA stated: “Use of a uniform compliance date provides for an orderly and economical industry adjustment to new labeling requirements by allowing sufficient lead time to plan for the use of existing label inventories and the development of new labeling materials.”

If any food labeling regulation involves special circumstances that justify a compliance date other than January 1, 2024, the FDA may determine that a different compliance date is appropriate for that regulation.

The FDA’s action does not change existing requirements for compliance dates contained in final rules published before January 1, 2021. 

The FDA is accepting comments on the final rule until March 8, 2021. Comments can be submitted here.