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Articles 2012

Authorised and non-authorised article 13-1 claims are now published in the EU Register on nutrition and health claims

222 authorised health claims and 1719 non-authorised health claims
pursuant to article 13-1 of the EU regulation 1924/2006…

The long-awaited vote finally occurred and the claims are listed in the EU register, accessible at:  http://ec.europa.eu/nuhclaims/?event=search

With the help of a quite user-friendly search tool, you can relatively easily find, for each food or food component,  what is the status of a particular health claim, as well as the conditions of use (when the claim is accepted) or reasons for non-authorisation (when rejected). Reference are also given to the EFSA scientific opinion and, in the near future,  the Commission regulation, when the claim is authorized.

Interestingly, access to the register is limited to those who accept to read a warning which stipulates that:

  • Any food business operator can use authorised health claims if conditions of use and any applicable restrictions are respected.
  • Non-authorised health claims should not be used.
  • National authorities control the use of claims.
  • Health claims should only be made for the nutrient, substance, food or food category for which they have been authorised, and not for the food product that contains them.
  • Some flexibility of wording of the claim is possible provided its aim is to help consumer understanding taking into account factors such as linguistic and cultural variations and the target population. Adapted wording must have the same meaning for the consumer as the authorised claim in the EU Register.

We thus just have to add that all non-authorized health claims will have to be withdrawn within 6 months following the official publication of corresponding Commission decision’s, which should occur within a few days. In other words, a new era will begin by next December….

And do not hesitate to come to us to explore how your own business can benefit from or adapt to this new equilibrium…

Author: V. Braesco. May 2012.

 

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