European Union

Last month two batches of supplements were blocked due to the banned ingredient aegeline, which has been linked to cases of liver damage

Is aegeline still at large in the EU?

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Two shipments of aegeline were blocked last month at the EU borders – begging the questions, is this illicit substance still at large and if so what should be done to stop it?  

Photo credit: iStock.com / Halfpoint

Dear Santa…Nutrition industry writes its wish list for 2016

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the bloc not a firm was stirring, not even the Brussels flock. Nutrition industry stakeholders have hung up their stockings by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there… but...

Strategic shift: 'There was really no reason to talk to the consumer any more because we were not allowed to talk to the consumer any more.'

NutraInterview: Dominique Speleers, Beneo executive board member

Beneo: EFSA forced us to change our strategy

By Shane STARLING

Dominique Speleers is a long-time Beneo man who has seen a lot in his 15 years with the European ingredients giant from back when it was Belgian inulin and chicory player Beneo-Orafti and now as a board member of the more European, more international,...

New novel foods regulation is expected to speed product launches

Novel foods changes will speed launches

By Noli Dinkovski

The EU’s decision to streamline the way it regulates novel foods and ingredients has received broad support from the food industry.

The Italian advertising standards body called marketing of a cystitis-fighting cranberry product 'highly misleading'. Image © iStock.com / designer491

Ad body ruling shows Italy’s increasing stray from EU food law

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The Italian advertising standards body has ruled that the marketing of a cystitis-fighting cranberry product is misleading – proof of the country’s increasing disregard for the EU nutrition and health claims regulation (NHCR), says one expert.

“The issue really is about ‘harmonisation’ of dose and specific ingredients and the free movement of foods.”

Norway publishes 12/44 ‘other substance’ risk assessments

By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn and Shane Starling

Norwegian authorities have published risk assessments for 12 so-called unregulated ‘other substances’ in food supplements and energy drinks, including caffeine, taurine and omega-3 forms EPA, DHA and EPA.

Danish probiotics major signs JV in Korea

Danish probiotics major signs JV in Korea

By RJ Whitehead

Biocare Copenhagen, a Danish probiotics company, will enter the Korean market through a partnership with local health food manufacturer and distributor Health Balance.

About 27% of the 7.3 billion global population eat insects, according to the FAO. Photo credit: iStock.com / peterkai

Two-year count down for insect novel food approval

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Producers of food-grade insects will submit a novel food application as soon as the new regulation passes into force, the International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed (IPIFF) has pledged.

'Policy makers need wholly new approach to the management of EU spending and investm​​ent,' says European Court of Auditors report

EU misspent €6.3bn in 2014

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The EU misspent €6.3bn in 2014 overall, according to a report from the European Court of Auditors that called for change. 

'We made a big step forward,' said PAN Europe

EFSA hands over names attached to expert comments

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has handed over details of which working group members made what changes to a draft document on pesticides following a European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling – but it will be keeping EFSA staff details to itself.

Walmark takes Valosun for undisclosed sum as its Eastern European expansion continues

Walmark buys Czech food supplements major

By Shane STARLING

Czech-based Eastern European supplements giant Walmark has completed its second regional acquisition of the year with the purchase of fellow Czech supplements firm Valosun for an undisclosed sum.

There are no systematically collected data on animal and human consumption of insects for us to look at, says EFSA

EFSA delivers long-awaited safety assessment despite data craters

EFSA on insects: Pathogens harmful to humans most likely from farming

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has said insect pathogens potentially harmful to humans are most likely to come from rearing and processing not intrinsically associated with the insect itself – but huge gaps in data remain. 

More than half of EU countries set to opt out of GM

By Niamh Michail

Sixteen countries have requested to opt out of GM cultivation in Europe – but while the Commission says the opt-out clause is necessary for such a complex issue, campaigners are calling it ‘Kafkaesque’ and one scientist warns Europe is walking 'an...

EFSA: “The fact we are here is an indication we are willing to commit to dialogue.”

Open book: The future of probiotic marketing in Europe

By Shane Starling in Brussels

‘Openness’ and ‘better dialogue’ between industry, scientists and regulators were themes of the day as the newly minted European chapter of the International Probiotics Association (IPA-Europe) launched itself with a mini-congress in Brussels yesterday.

'EFSA's opinion backs the idea that health claims are sufficient to regulate foods for sports people under general food law,' says consultant

EFSA report suggests sports food is normal food

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published a key opinion on sports foods, which some say backs the idea that sports food should be considered ‘normal’ not specialist.

Will proposed EU novel food nanotech rules create unnecessary and innovation-sapping

Nanotek group opposes changes to EU novel foods rules

By Shane STARLING

Mooted changes to EU novel food laws that will cater for new ingredient sources like insects and food making methods like nanotechnology are ‘vague, unclear and unworkable’ according to a leading nanotechnology group.

Europe's specialised food groups have divergent views on how to legislate sub-sectors

FSG deadline: July 20, 2016

SNE ‘increasingly concerned’ by impending EU specialised food laws

By Shane STARLING

Europe’s biggest specialised food group used a meeting in Brussels this week to reiterate its call for “clear, evidence-based, and balanced legislation” as the 2016 kick-in date nears for EU laws governing foods like toddler milks, diet replacements and...

Q&A: Industry bodies lay down the law on key European issues

Special edition: Inside Europe’s food supplement markets

Q&A: Industry bodies lay down the law on key European issues

By Shane STARLING

European food supplement groups share insights from the law to distribution to marketing and science in this Q&A on the €7bn European supplements sector, according to Euromonitor International.

UNESDA: “In the past national rules have made it difficult to commercialise a single sports drinks formula across the whole of the EU and this should be guarded against.”

Calls mount to evolve EU sports foods regulations

By Shane STARLING

European food bodies have reiterated calls to better regulate the sports food, drink and supplement category to ease uncertainty and inconsistency across the EU’s 28 member states – and boost innovation.

ECJ case is 'a critically needed' check on government actors and measures, says food lawyer

EFSA loses right to keep experts secret

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has lost its right to keep the names of contributing expert commentators a secret – a European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling that could be applied retrospectively.

“We see opportunities for scientifically justified nutritional products…”

EFSA issues medical foods guidance

By Shane STARLING

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has issued guidance on how firms can compile “well-structured dossiers” for medical foods that may be permitted in the EU’s 28 nations as momentum to update archaic laws grows.

BASF-Stepan: “We hope, also for future applicants, that EFSA will focus more on their concrete mandate in answering a scientific question instead of taking over the role of risk management.”

‘EFSA failed in their evaluation…’

BASF launches stinging attack on EFSA

By Shane STARLING

BASF says the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) failed to fulfil its health claim assessment remit after the Parma-based agency last month rejected its CLA-weight management appeal.

Canadian Chia player seeks EU novel foods approval

Canadian Chia player seeks EU novel foods approval

Canadian food supplements firm Advantage Health Matters has applied for EU novel foods approval for its chia seed products under European Union substantial equivalence rules via UK authorities.

Unilever back in court over pro.activ cholesterol claims

Unilever back in court over pro.activ cholesterol claims

By Shane STARLING

Food giant Unilever appeared in a Hamburg court today to defend use of expert statements that its plant sterol-based Becel pro.activ did not have any side effects such as bloodstream plaque levels in healthy people.

The challenges of selling insects in Europe

The challenges of selling insects in Europe

By Niamh Michail

EU regulation is confusing but with growing consumer demand, it's still an attractive market. FoodNavigator spoke to five companies about the challenges of selling insects in Europe.

US firm wins EU novel foods approval for vitamin K2

US firm wins EU novel foods approval for vitamin K2

By Shane STARLING

Indiana firm Vesta Ingredients has won EU novel foods approval for its vitamin K2 form as it has been determined to be equivalent to a form already on-market and proven to be safe.