A row is looming between Brussels and the food industry over plans for a minimum font size for text on labels.

On Wednesday the European Commission will produce the final version of its Regulation on the Provision of Food Information to Consumers, which covers labelling.

It is believed the regulation will contain an obligation for suppliers and retailers to use text no smaller than 3mm for mandatory information.

In its draft proposal in November, Brussels had originally said information should be printed in a font size of no smaller than eight point. "Studies show small print size is one of the main causes of dissatisfaction with food labels," it said.

However, during consultation it was pointed out that fonts varied, and eight point in one may be much larger or smaller than in another. In response, the commission is expected to demand the 3mm rule - which has horrified the industry. "The size of packaging varies and the approach needs to be more tailor-made," Sabine Nafziger, director of consumer information at CIAA, the umbrella body for food associations in the EU. "We think the rule should be applied by taking account of the surface area of a label." CIAA planned to produce mock-up labels of well-known products to show the EC the impact a 3mm minimum would have on suppliers and retailers," said Nafziger.

The new regulation is also expected to contain tighter rules for front-of-pack labelling. The EC said it wanted front-of-pack GDAs to be mandatory. However, it also said national governments should be free to demand additional information.

The industry fears suppliers could be forced to produce different labelling schemes for all 27 nations. However, it is understood the final regulation will include a clause giving the commission the right to harmonise labelling across the EU if it feels there is too much divergence at a national level. The College of Commissioners is expected to adopt the new regulation next month.