EU Corrigendum 2024/1438: what changes for honey, juices and jams

Key data

Manufacturers, packers and importers of four food categories have an immediate task: review the corrected text of Directive (EU) 2024/1438. The corrigendum published on 19 March 2026 under reference OJ:L_202690217 amends material or drafting errors detected in the original directive of 24 May 2024, which modernised European rules on composition, labelling and sales descriptions of honey, juices, jams and preserved dehydrated milk.

Although the corrigendum does not alter the substantive content of the regulation, any adaptation process based on the original text may be working with an incorrect version. The transposition into Spanish law must also reflect the corrected text.

What does this regulation establish?

This publication is a corrigendum to Directive (EU) 2024/1438, not a new directive. The original directive, adopted on 14 May 2024 and published on 24 May 2024, amended four Council directives regulating specific food categories:

The corrigendum published in March 2026 does not modify the substance of what the directive establishes. It amends material or drafting errors detected after publication. The corrected text is the one that has legal validity and must be used as the reference for regulatory compliance and for transposition into the Spanish legal order.

Economic and operational impact

The direct economic impact of this corrigendum is not quantified in the publication, as it does not introduce new substantive obligations. However, the operational impact is real for companies already in the process of adapting to Directive 2024/1438:

• Review of internal documentation: Any compliance manual, technical data sheet or procedure based on the original text of 24 May 2024 must be reviewed against the corrected text.
• Labelling and sales descriptions: If changes to labels or product descriptions have already been initiated, verify that they conform to the corrected text before printing or distributing.
• Import processes: Importers must ensure that the products they bring to the European market comply with the corrected version of the regulation.
• Spanish transposition: Companies closely following the national legislative process must require that the Spanish transposition measure incorporates the corrected text, not the original.

The cost of failing to verify the corrected text may result in unintentional regulatory non-compliance if adaptation processes are based on a version containing drafting errors that affect technical or legal interpretations.

Who is affected?

This corrigendum is relevant to any food sector operator working with the four regulated product categories:

• Honey manufacturers adapting composition, labelling or sales descriptions to Directive 2024/1438.
• Manufacturers and packers of fruit juices and other similar products intended for human consumption.
• Manufacturers of jams, jellies, marmalades and sweetened chestnut purée that have initiated regulatory review processes.
• Manufacturers and importers of preserved milk that is partly or wholly dehydrated (milk powder and similar products).
• Legal and compliance advisors guiding food companies in adapting to the directive.
• Quality and regulatory managers in food sector companies with a presence in the European market.
• Importers of any of these four product categories marketed in the European Union.

Practical example

A Spanish honey packing company began its adaptation process to Directive (EU) 2024/1438 in the second half of 2024, updating its labels and product technical data sheets based on the text published on 24 May 2024.

With the corrigendum published on 19 March 2026, this company must:

1. Download the corrected text from EUR-Lex (OJ:L_202690217) and compare it with the original text (OJ L, 2024/1438).
2. Identify whether any of the corrected errors affects the provisions already implemented in its labelling or processes.
3. If there are discrepancies, update the internal documentation and, if labels have already been printed but not yet distributed, assess correction before launch.
4. Inform the legal team that the Spanish transposition must be based on the corrected text, in order to anticipate any additional adjustments when the national regulation is published.

This process does not necessarily entail high costs, but it does require technical and legal review time that must be planned before the Spanish transposition enters into force.

What should companies do now?

1. Download the corrected text: Access the official publication OJ:L_202690217 on EUR-Lex and obtain the corrected version of Directive (EU) 2024/1438 published on 19 March 2026.
2. Compare with the original text: Cross-reference the corrected text with the original text of 24 May 2024 (OJ L, 2024/1438) to identify exactly which errors have been amended.
3. Audit ongoing adaptation processes: Review whether changes already implemented in labelling, composition or sales descriptions are based on the original text containing errors or on the corrected text.
4. Update internal documentation: Compliance manuals, technical data sheets, quality control procedures and any document that cites or is based on the directive must reference the corrected text.
5. Monitor the Spanish transposition process: Track when and how Spain transposes the directive into national law, ensuring that the Spanish regulation incorporates the corrected text. Consult the European regulation category for updates.
6. Inform suppliers and importers: If you work with suppliers or importers of honey, juices, jams or dried milk, notify them of the corrigendum so they can also update their compliance processes.

Official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, please consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=OJ:L_202690217