MEPs slam EFSA’s handling of botanical & supplement health claims

21-Apr-2011 - Last updated on 22-Apr-2011 at 11:21 GMT

The European Food Safety Authority’s evaluation of Article 13.1 health claims, particularly concerning botanicals and food supplements, contravenes consumer choice and damages small and medium-sized businesses, warns an influential group of MEPs.

Article 13.1 of the Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation aims to harmonise the use of claims across the EU after EFSA assesses their scientific validity. But too often those assessments are flawed, claimed MEPs.

Negative opinion

Michele Rivasi, MEP Greens/European Political Alliance (EPA), said: “How is it that over 95% of cases of health claims filed for natural or herbal substances received a negative opinion?”

“EFSA’s approach is too stringent and based on procedures derived from the drug industry. It takes into account very little scientific evidence and dismisses claims that have been approved in several European countries.

“In doing so, EFSA assessments are also in contradiction to the European Medicines Agency, which, through the directive on traditional herbal remedies, recognises the healing properties of dozens of plants.”

EFSA should review its assessment methodology given the impact on industry and consumers, he added.

Bogusław Sonik, MEP European People’s Party (EPP) said: “It is vital that the Commission takes into consideration the economic impact that this approach will have on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). SMEs are the backbone of our economy and it is important that their rights are not unnecessarily infringed.”

Marian Harkin, MEP Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) said: “The effect of banning all claims, other than those few that are allowed, risks putting consumers into an information void which will make it difficult for them to understand what the product was intended for. This situation works to contravene consumer choice".

Weaknesses and limitations

MEPs voiced their criticisms at the workshop in Brussels entitled Botanicals & Food supplements in the EU: Impacts, weaknesses and limitations of Article 13.1 of the EU’s claims regulation held on Tuesday 20 April .

No one from EFSA was available to respond to the MEPs' criticisms.

Meanwhile, earlier this week, a spokesman for the Czech Special Foods Association (CSFA) told NutraIngredients that “EFSA wants platinum, not gold science.”

Vaclav Bazata, CSFA vice president and SVUS Pharma business development manager, made the comment after EFSA’s Panel on Nutrition, Allergies and Dietetic Products (NDA) rejected article 14 disease risk reduction flu, cold and sore throat claims submitted by SVUS Pharma, for its OTC product, ProteQuine.