European Union

MEPs last week said they were “convinced the authority should be endowed with a sufficient budget to hire independent in-house experts with no conflicts of interest”. ©iStock

Analysis: Can EFSA ever cut ties with industry?

By David Burrows

The consultation for a new policy on independence at the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) draws to a close this week and campaigners have told FoodNavigator that the final document won’t be worth the paper it’s written on

MEPs also decided to end the practice whereby consumers cannot access a foreign website but are directed to a website in their own country. ©iStock/scyther5

MEPs vote to end cross-border bias in online shopping

By Will Chu

Shopping for specialty foods could become easier after an EU committee voted to lift restrictions preventing retailers from selling products online to consumers living in another member state.

© iStock

VITAFOODS 2017 PREVIEW

Sports nutrition regulation has improved but is still uncertain: ESSNA

By Emma Jane Cash

Regulation for sports nutrition has had a long and winding road over the last decade but there are still issues that need addressing, says European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance (ESSNA) vice-chair Stuart Shotton ahead of his talk at Vitafoods 2017...

© iStock

ARCHIVE ARTICLE OF THE WEEK

What should EFSA do to improve the NHCR?

By Emma Jane Cash

The aims of health claims are to encourage fair competition, prevent the public from being mislead and to promote innovation, but more and more companies are being put off by the application process. What needs to change?

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European Parliament votes in favour of strict new palm oil measures

By Louis Gore-Langton

Today the European Parliament voted to implement tough new palm oil resolutions, which if enforced would see its elimination from use in biofuels and enforce stricter regulations on production and certification throughout the continent. 

Parliament failed to reach the required majority, leaving the decision in the hands of the commission  ©iStock

MEPs oppose GM approvals but Commission will have the final say

By Louis Gore-Langton

EU member states yesterday voted against the introduction and renewal of GM grains in Europe but failed to reach a binding majority, leaving the president of the Commission Jean-Claude Juncker to make the final decision.

©iStock/BrianAJackson

Your Voice Matters

Have your say today: NutraIngredients state of the industry survey

By Nathan Gray

Which consumer trends will be important for your business? Are European markets too fragmented? What is in store for your category? How are EU rules affecting your prospects? To gauge our readers’ views on these – and many more questions - NutraIngredients...

5-C NutriScore to be France's official nutrition label

5-C NutriScore to be France's official nutrition label

By Niamh Michail

The five-colour NutriScore is the most effective nutrition label in promoting healthier food choices and will be adopted as the official (but voluntary) label in France, the health minister has said. 

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EU Commission revises “outdated” medical device regulation

By Emma Jane Cash

The EU Commission has released the revised regulations for the marketing of medical devices, simplifying the confusing between food and medical device, after outlining the changes - including post-market surveillance and increased traceability - back...

MEPs call on EU to create food quality agency

MEPs call on EU to create food quality agency

By Louis Gore-Langton

Food products sold under the same label continually show inconsistent standards of quality, particularly in Eastern Europe, prompting calls for a new regulatory body in the EU.

© iStock.com / Zerbor

ECJ strikes down German amino acid restrictions

By Eliot Beer

The European Court of Justice has said Germany’s rules on amino acids as ingredients are not compatible with EU law, creating potential for confusion on amino acid rules in the EU.

©iStock/thavornc

New blood: Soy bean extract wins EU approval

By Shane Starling

A Japanese firm has won EU novel foods approval for a blood clot-benefitting fermented soy bean extract for all groups except “pregnant and lactating women.”

©iStock/phototechno

The nutra space: Eyes turn to 2017

By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn & Shane Starling

Only the seemingly foolish would have predicted 2016 would see the UK vote to leave the EU and Donald Trump win the US presidential election. But in the post-truth era, these are the facts.

'We can re-empower ourselves and put ourselves in the driving seat of our own health.' ©iStock/stevanovicigor

Brexit, Trumpism & natural health: de-programming the medical model

By Rob Verkerk PhD

2016 has been a year of incredible change. The world is creaking under the weight of social, political and economic crisis. The ‘establishment’, the liberal left, the ruling elite – call it what you like – has been shaken to its core in ways that few...

'Rather than throwing the baby out with the bathwater we just need to look at it and find a way of making sure the vulnerable consumer is protected,' says GSK. ©iStock/EldadCarin

Dispatches from the #SNC16 congress in Frankfurt

Could energy drinks be cut out of the EU caffeine claim loop?

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance (ESSNA) is lobbying for two different solutions to the EU caffeine claim hold up, one of which could see use of the claims limited to sports supplements only.  

IPES: Existing EU food policies 'do not fit together, and are not delivering – individually or collectively.' ©iStock

Europe’s Plan B: The ‘Common Food Policy’

By Louis Gore-Langton

An independent think tank, IPES, has been set up to advise the EU and work towards creating a common food policy that would create a sustainable, healthy and profitable food system – a ‘plan B’ to the failures of the current framework.

Food industry bodies fear the trade deal could undermine public health, environment and food industry rights ©iStock

Stop CETA: Trans-continental coalition fights trade agreement

By Louis Gore-Langton

A coalition of over 450 civil society groups from Europe and Canada has signed an open letter pleading legislators to vote against the deal, fearing it will erode public power over the dietary and environmental impact of the food industry.

Astaxanthin powder ©iStock

Chinese astaxanthin wins EU novel foods approval

By Lynda Searby

Competition is hotting up in the astaxanthin space, as Novel Food authorisation for BGG’s AstaZine line of natural astaxanthin ingredients marks the entry of a new player into the European carotenoid market.

The EU and US could be seeing more launches of products containing a synthetic antioxidant found naturally in mushrooms. ©iStock/Olha_Afanasieva

Novel fungi antioxidant l-ergothioneine is safe: EFSA

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has said l-ergothioneine is safe for use in food and supplements in a novel food evaluation that settles EU member state fears it may increase the risk of diabetes mellitus and inflammatory diseases like Crohn's...

Probiotic supplement growth is outstripping glucosamine, multivitamins, calcium, omega-3s, CoQ10 and protein. ©iStock/kzenon

Probiotic supplements on rise in global €40bn market

By Shane Starling

Latest data from Euromonitor International shows the global probiotics market is worth about €40bn, yoghurt continues to be the dominant mode of delivery although probiotic supplements are growing fastest.