The Council adopted the compromise text previously agreed with the European Parliament that aligns the EU directive on fruit juices to the international food standards of the Codex Alimentarius. Once the new rules enters into force, the addition of sugars to fruit juices will not longer be authorised. The new directive authorises the food business operators to use a statement on the labels informing the consumers that from a certain date no fruit juices contain added sugars.

The new directive on fruit juices has been adopted, following the approval by the Council of a compromise text reached with the European Parliament aimed at further aligning the EU directive on fruit juices to the international food standards of the Codex Alimentarius. The new directive incorporates the current industry practice of not adding sugars to fruit juices. The new rules will apply to all fruit juices marketed in the EU, irrespective of their origin. In April 2011, the European Parliament warned that more than 80% of all orange juice consumed in Europe is imported.

Moreover, the use of the "with no added sugars" claim in the labels will be no longer allowed after the end of the transitional period (18 months after the date of application of new rules), when all  fruit juices present on the market are not allowed to contain added sugars any more. To enable the industry to inform the consumers properly both during the transitional period and another 18 months after its end, the directive authorises the food business operators to use a statement on the labels informing the consumers that from a certain date no fruit juices contain added sugars.

The new directive also adds tomatoes to the list of fruits used for fruit juice's production. This means that tomato juices will be subject to the same specific rules as other fruit juices. The new rules also confirm the existing law according to which each fruit from which the fruit juice is made from must be indicated in the product name. However, if the juice is produced from three and more fruits the indication of the fruits may be replaced by the words "several fruits".