CRN, Merck, DSM, BASF spark new EU food supplements group

Ingrid Atteryd, chair of the Swedish food supplements association, Föreningen Svensk Egenvård, and member of the new group – Food Supplements Europe (FSE) - told us the group sought to build “credible and trustful relationships”​ with regulators.  

“We will work progressively to defend the interests of the sector and build a regulatory environment that is proportionate via constructive dialogue with regulators.”​

Founding FSE members are:

• the Council for Responsible Nutrition UK (CRN-UK)
• the  Brussels-based European Responsible Nutrition Alliance Nutrition (ERNA)
• food supplement associations in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, the Czech republic, Italy
• ingredient suppliers DSM, BASF, Kemin, Lonza
• food supplement makers Herbalife, Merck, Bayer, Capsugel, Innéov (Nestlé & L'Oréal JV)

Atteryd said the federation could manage the expectations of such a diverse group, because certainly in the case of European food supplements law, they all wanted the same thing: Greater transparency and proportionality in European food law processes.

“You put both the small and large players together and all can benefit.”​

“…a unique partnership…”​​

In a statement the group said it was open, “to companies or national associations in the sector that subscribe to its vision, aims and principles.”​

Ric Hobby, CRN-UK chairman, vice president of worldwide regulatory, government and industry affairs at Herbalife International, and member of Food Supplements Europe (FSE) said in the same statement:“[FSE] is a unique partnership bringing together the vast technical and scientific expertise of company experts with the market and practical knowledge of national associations.”​

“Through specific tools and programmes we aim to promote adherence to standards to ensure the safety and quality of food supplements on the EU market and to help shape a positive regulatory environment for the future.”​

A spokesperson said while the group was for the moment operating out of the same Brussels office as the European Federation of Associations of Health Product Manufacturers (EHPM) which represents small-to-medium sized enterprises (SMEs), the two groups would not work together.

One industry observer said FSE was partly born out of a perceived frustration with EHPM’s limited lobbying power due to its SME focus.