Slovenia has officially concluded its legislative process for a new front-of-pack nutrition labelling regulation the "Good Choice" (Dobra Izbira) scheme marking a significant step in the country's public health and food transparency agenda.
The regulation, formally titled "Uredba o uporabi znaka 'Dobra izbira' za lažje prepoznavanje živila z ugodno prehransko sestavo" (Regulation on the Use of the "Good Choice" Sign for Easier Identification of Food with a Favorable Nutritional Composition), was finalized on March 16, 2026. The "Good Choice" mark is a voluntary front-of-pack labelling scheme that allows food manufacturers and retailers to display a recognizable logo on products that meet defined nutritional criteria. The goal is to make it easier for everyday consumers to quickly identify food products with a favorable nutritional composition at a glance, without having to read detailed nutrition tables.
Label Design and Format
The "Good Choice" label features a distinctive green "Q"-shaped outline symbolizing nutritional quality, with a green heart placed at its center. The label may optionally be accompanied by the text "DOBRA IZBIRA" (Good Choice). To ensure visibility across all packaging types and backgrounds, the regulation provides adapted versions — a black version for light backgrounds and a white version for dark backgrounds. The standard minimum width of the label is set at 10 mm, which may be reduced to 7 mm where packaging space is limited, making it practical for both large and small product formats.
Eligible Food Categories and Nutritional Criteria
The "Good Choice" label is not universally applicable to all food products. Only foods that meet specific, science-based nutritional limits within their defined food category are eligible to carry the mark. For milk and dairy drinks with no added sugar, the fat content must not exceed 1.8 g per 100g. Breakfast cereals must meet multiple criteria simultaneously — sugar must be no more than 12.5 g, fat no more than 10 g, and salt no more than 1.2 g, while dietary fiber must be at least 6 g per 100g. Hard cheeses qualify when fat content is at or below 15 g and salt does not exceed 1.5 g per 100g. For meat products — including poultry and fish — fat must be no more than 3 g and salt no more than 1.5 g per 100g. This category-specific approach acknowledges the different nutritional profiles across food groups while maintaining a consistent and credible signal for consumers at the point of purchase.
Recordkeeping and Compliance Obligations
Food businesses that choose to adopt the "Good Choice" label are subject to ongoing compliance and documentation requirements. Producers must retain all relevant production records, testing data, and nutritional analysis reports as verifiable evidence of their compliance with the prescribed nutritional criteria. Furthermore, if any change occurs in a product's composition or name, or if a product is withdrawn from the market, the operator is required to notify the Ministry of Health within 30 days of that change. These obligations are designed to ensure the long-term integrity of the label and to allow regulatory authorities to monitor compliance effectively across the food industry.
Industry Outlook
The finalization of the "Good Choice" regulation positions Slovenia among a growing number of European nations adopting front-of-pack, science-based nutrition indicators as part of national food and public health strategies. For food manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, the regulation presents both an opportunity and a responsibility — those whose products genuinely meet the nutritional criteria can leverage the label as a meaningful market differentiator and trust-building tool with health-conscious consumers. The effective date of enforcement is expected to be confirmed upon publication in Slovenia's Official Gazette (Uradni list RS).
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