EFSA updates health claim guidance for first time since 2011

Europe’s central food science agency has issued fresh guidance on health claims including a ‘standardised format’ and clarification of data requirements.

Valeriu Curtui, head of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Nutrition Unit, said: “We expect the updated guidance to increase the efficiency of evaluating health claims once applicants adhere to the new application format.”

EFSA's Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) - notoriously tough on health claims since it began evaluating them under the EU nutrition and health claims regulation (NHCR) in 2008 – was explicit in advising future applicants to use its new ‘standardised format’.

The Parma, Italy based agency said the new guidance was built off industry consultations conducted since 2011 and especially an eight-week public consultation last summer.

Look to NutraIngredients for further reaction to EFSA’s health claim guidance and exploration of its detail,but feel free to leave a comment in the box below this story.