The European Food Safety Authority has kicked off the eagerly awaited health claim assessment process with a slew of claim rejections signalling a hard line methodology that may see thousands of claims submissions binned.
The International Alliance of Dietary/Food Supplement Associations (IADSA) is keeping up pressure on changing how health clams are substantiated by Codex.
Pan-European health and nutrition claims moved a step closer to reality after 2870 claims were delivered to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for assessment by January, 2010.
The European risk assessment body may apply "too strict
criteria" for the substantiation of article 13 health claims,
jeopardising small businesses, said the European Botanical Forum
(EBF).
The European Commission has culled its gargantuan nutrition
and health claims list from more than 40,000 to 1500 as the
health claims process moves closer to fruition in January, 2010.
A seminar attended by key government and industry figures in Singapore has highlighted claim issues in south east Asia and given insights into managing the legislative change occurring in the region.
Italians and women are the most interested western Europeans
in digestive health claims while Dutch are the least, according to
new consumer research funded by French fibre specialist Syral.
"Subtle language differences" may confound regulators in
the midst of translating thousands of health claims ahead of a
pan-European 2010 approval deadline, according to various industry
sources.
The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued a detailed 81-page
document advising companies on how to negotiate the various
European Commission processes involved in health claims submission,
approval and application.
