Food health claims - countdown to comply

摘要

Following the European Commission's approval in May of the list of generic health claims made on foods, regulating the use of claims in food labelling and advertising, an appeal was recently lodged to the European courts by major Dutch and UK food groups, unhappy with the way the legislation has been implemented, and the European Food Safety Authority's (ERA) approach to assessing Article 13 claims. These relate mostly to probiotic health claims which had been rejected by the EFSA, to the widespread dismay of the food industry, and against a growing tide of consumer support for these products. The groups are seeking the annulment of the current EU Register on nutrition and health claims (the Register) for the EFSA to start the assessment process again, in a way which they claim is in closer keeping to the EC Regulation.