The production and marketing of citrus jam e jelly jam are subject to a specific regulation, harmonized at the European level, established by Directive 2001/113/EC on jams, jellies, marmalades and chestnut purées.
This directive was recently amended by Directive (EU) 2024/1438, the so-called ‘Breakfast Directive’. Below is the detail of the new rules, transposed into Italian law by Legislative Decree 207/2025, effective from June 14, 2026.
The ‘citrus jam’ is defined as ‘the mixture, brought to the appropriate gelled consistency, of:
- water, sugars and of one or more of the following products, obtained from citrus fruits:
- pulp, purée, juice, aqueous extracts and peels.
In the sales denomination “citrus jam,” the term “citrus” can be replaced by the name of the citrus fruit used.
The quantity of citrus fruits used in the manufacture of 1000 grams of finished product must not be less than 200 grams, of which at least 75 grams must come from the endocarp’. The endocarp is the innermost part of the citrus fruit, consisting of the carpels (segments) that contain the juice.
Jelly jam, the definition
The ‘jelly jam’ is in turn defined as ‘a citrus jam free totally from insoluble substances, except possibly for small amounts of finely chopped peel’ (Legislative Decree 207/2025, article 3).
Optional ingredients
The Optional ingredients allowed in jams and jelly jams are the following:
- honey, as total or partial replacement
of sugars;
- citrus essential oils;
- edible oils and fats, such as antifoaming agents;
- liquid pectin;
- alcoholic substances, wine and fortified wine;
- walnuts, hazelnuts and almonds;
- aromatic herbs, spices;
- vanilla, vanilla extracts, vanillin;
- food additives authorized in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008.
Dario Dongo
Image by Rafael Albaladejo from Pixabay
References
- Council Directive 2001/113/EC of 20 December 2001 relating to fruit jams, jellies and marmalades and sweetened chestnut purée intended for human consumption. Consolidated text: 18/11/2013 http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2001/113/2013-11-18
- Legislative Decree 30 December 2025, No. 207. Implementation of Directive (EU) 2024/1438 of the European Parliament and of the Council. https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/eli/id/2026/01/05/26G00001/sg
- Directive (EU) 2024/1438 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 amending Council Directives 2001/110/EC relating to honey, 2001/112/EC relating to fruit juices and certain similar products intended for human consumption, 2001/113/EC relating to fruit jams, jellies and marmalades and sweetened chestnut purée intended for human consumption, and 2001/114/EC relating to certain partly or wholly dehydrated preserved milk for human consumption. http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2024/1438/oj
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT – Food Times) and Égalité.
