European Union

©iStock

Indian carotenoid player enters Europe

Bangalore-based lutein and carotenoid specialist Katra Phyto has enlisted UK-based ingredient player and distributor Gee Lawson as its European partner.

'The way protein is currently defined in labelling regulation needs to change because this is precisely the root of the protein spiking problem,' says ESSNA vice-chair. ©iStock/ogichobanov

Nitrogen spiking: The loophole jeopardising protein’s podium place

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The European sports nutrition industry is calling for a ‘protein spiking’ loophole to be closed, but if there is any Brussels movement it is likely to be slow and this lapse threatens to knock the nutrition staple from the top step of the sports nutrition...

'Slower revenue growth, coupled with prolonged business uncertainty, is affecting the industry’s ability to invest' ©iStock/FutroZen

Prices rising, margins falling

Brexit blasts British food industry boldness

By David Burrows

Rising ingredient prices and a fall in product margins since the UK’s Brexit vote have seen confidence levels plummet, according to a new poll of food and drink manufacturers.

ESSNA: 'Consumption patterns in our sector are greatly varied depending on type, frequency and intensity of exercise.' ©iStock

ESSNA: Sports nutrition needs vitamin exemption

By Shane Starling

The European sports nutrition industry wants exemption from vitamin and mineral minimum levels required for some foods to claim healthy status – it says the levels are too high for many sports food consumption occasions.

Since March there have been 16 large-scale cases involving multiple countries blocking supplements containing agmatine sulphate at the borders.

Schwarzenegger supplement latest agmatine sulphate reject

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Malta has warned against using a MusclePharm workout supplement endorsed by Arnold Schwarzenegger following an investigation into its agmatine sulphate content concerning a total of 30 countries. The case is the latest to deal with the novel nitric oxide...

BEUC highlights 'flaws in EU and national legislations'. FSE says category is 'extensively' regulated. ©iStock/PushishDonghongsa

BEUC: ‘EU food supplements market is only partially regulated’

By Shane Starling

Europeans rely ‘more and more’ on food supplements but are being let down by a ‘patchy regulatory network’ governing a market awash with dodgy products and claims, the EU’s premier consumer rights group has found in a sector report.

©iStock/kamolmek

EU botanicals mini-Q&A

By Shane Starling

We asked the Alliance for Natural Health-International (ANH-I) founder, executive and scientific director, Dr Robert Verkerk a few questions about the ever-changing EU herbals market.

Application of the THMPD differs among EU member states. ©iStock/amnarj2006

THMPD: Has it delivered?

By Lynda Searby

There is a clear divide in the way the THMPD has been implemented across Europe, with the UK and Germany on one side; Italy, France and Belgium on the other.

Court ruling: 'It is the producer who is responsible for ensuring that its products are safe for the consumer.' ©iStock/eyegelb

‘huge win for the industry’

Swedish court throws out EFSA vitamin upper limits

By Lynda Searby

The Swedish food supplement industry is breathing a sigh of relief that a sales ban imposed on vitamin B6 supplements that exceed “EFSA-recommended upper limits” has been overturned by a Swedish court.

Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) committee chair 'strongly rejects' further cuts to funding for environmental and health agencies. ©iStock.com/Piotr Adamowicz

ENVI chair seeks freeze on EFSA budget squeeze

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Members of European Parliament (MEPs) have voted to fight proposals to cut 2017 budgets for EU agencies including the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

'If [the UK government] cuts funding, you might find smaller areas like nutrition will be squeezed for bigger areas of science,' says senior nutrition researcher. ©iStock/MarianVejcik

UK criticised over EU research funding shortfall pledge

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The UK government’s promise to underwrite EU research funding post Brexit is welcome, but ultimately too short term, director of Newcastle University’s Human Nutrition Research Centre has said.

Between 2007 and 2013, the UK got €3.4bn more back from the EU in science funding than it was putting in. So what does this mean for UK science post Brexit? ©iStock/shironosov

Filling a €3.4bn deficit: UK research post Brexit

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The European Commission has said it is business as usual for UK researcher’s access to EU funding until official Brexit moves are made. Yet concerns persist as reports emerge of Brits already being dropped from EU projects and as long-term plans to plug...

BASF was one of the 35 multinationals that benefited from the state-sanctioned tax scheme that saw an overall €700 million in taxes go unpaid. ©iStock/Piotr Adamowicz

Update on ‘illegal’ Belgian tax row following flood of court cases

BASF joins multinationals challenging Commission's 'illegal' tax ruling

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

German chemical giant BASF has joined the seven companies and the Belgian government taking legal action against the European Commission for its ruling that a generous Belgian tax scheme was illegal.

Immunity-focused drinking yoghurt Actimel relaunched in April with the help of a music group Stay Strong Brothers. A revamp of gut health-orriented spoonable yoghurt Activia is expected in the second half of the year.

Solid global, flat European growth for Danone in first half of 2016

Can Actimel revamp inject life into Danone’s flat European sales?

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Danone has recorded negative overall sales figures in Europe for the first half of 2016. But the company hopes investment in the relaunch of its Activia and Actimel brands will help return it to profitable growth.

EU court rules that professionals cannot be expected to permanently have all up-to-date scientific knowledge necessary to evaluate each claim in advertising. ©iStock

legal uncertainty and B2B marketing rethink on the horizon?

B2B ads are not safe from health claim regulation: EU court confirms

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The Court of Justice of the EU has confirmed that commercial communications addressed solely to health professionals must respect the nutrition and health claims regulation (NHCR) like any other marketing addressed to consumers.

Nutrient profiles would send a clear message to the industry: If you plan on using this health claim on X, Y or Z product, don’t bother filing it. © iStock.com / pixinoo

Caffeine claim calamity should give nutrient profiles wings

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The European Commission has started the first phase of its investigation into the need for nutrient profiles, with a report expected in spring 2017. Yet with the caffeine claim fiasco ongoing, it’s never been clearer how necessary the profiles are.

Why did 52% of the electorate of the UK vote to leave the European Union?  © iStock.com / lenscap67

All you need to know about Britain's Brussels blow

A dummies' guide to Brexit

By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn from a southern European expat bunker

Confused about all this talk about Brexit in that far-away rainy country of crumpets and Beatles? Not quite sure who Nigel Farage is? (Lucky you.) Well we’re here to guide you through it. Disclaimer: I am British and voted Remain.

The head of the Commission's DG SANTE food legislation unit outlines three possible solutions to the EU's botanical woes. © iStock.com / JPC-PROD

The botanical blockade: EC ponders 3 pathways

By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn from Brussels

The European Commission has mused three different solutions to the botanical extracts situation that has seen about 2000 claims stuck on hold. Yet real movement will not be seen in the immediate future, a DG SANTE head has said.  

'People will pay more for food. The British people have voted to raise the food prices,' says professor Tim Lang. Photo: iStock

Brexit Briefings: Interview

What are Britain's post-Brexit options and how will it impact industry?

By Niamh Michail

Rising food prices, watered-down safety standards, food law dictated by big businesses and a disastrous impact on public health. Professor in food policy Tim Lang looks at the options of a post-Brexit UK but sees little light at the end of the channel...

'My personal view is that, unless it is clearly explained as a property of the food, it is a health claim or a reference to general well-being, which needs to be accompanied by an authorised health claim.' © iStock.com

SPECIAL EDITION: ANTIOXIDANTS, POLYPHENOLS & CAROTENOIDS

Why antioxidant claims have been killed off in the EU

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

European regulatory restraints have killed off antioxidant health claims as lawyers advise firms to play it safe despite leniency in some EU member states. We round up the legal status of the term, and the impact this has had on the market.

The €1.62m-project PUReOPE wants to make polyphenols from brewing, distilling, malting and cereals sector waste common place. © iStock.com / mrdoomits

Special Edition: Antioxidants, polyphenols & carotenoids

Pint of polyphenols? Culture shift needed to find value in brewery waste

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The EU has offered up big money for a project to get high value polyphenol compounds from brewing industry waste. Yet the leader of the project says a business culture shift is also needed to take the practice mainstream.

Boswellia: 'There needs to be a focus on the quality of the extracts...But I believe the industry can clean itself up.' ©iStock

'When the price is low you should be suspicious.'

Action needed to curb boswellia adulteration: QC analyst

By Shane Starling from Paris

Boswellia serrata adulteration remains a major problem in the EU and elsewhere and responsible players need to do more to identify fraudulent material and actors, an expert has said.

Parliament concerns over energy drinks come to a head as MEPs vote to veto caffeine health claims. © iStock.com / KatarzynaBialasiewicz

MEPs vote to veto 4 caffeine health claims

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The European Parliament’s Environment and Public Health Committee (ENVI) has adopted a last-minute motion that could see four controversial caffeine claims vetoed in a move the energy drink sector warns could result in yet more years of "legal uncertainty”.

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