The draft guidance is an update to its initial 2011 guidance. Since then, however, EFSA says its Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA Panel) has gained additional experience in the evaluation of claim applications related to antioxidants, oxidative damage and cardiovascular health.
“In light of this experience, and taking into account additional information collected through a grant launched in 2014, the panel decided that a number of key aspects needed further clarification,” says an EFSA statement.
Public consultation on the new draft guidance is open until 3 September 2017, after which the final updated version of the guidance will be released to help applicants in preparing and submitting their health claims for scientific evaluation.
The draft focuses on key issues relating to which claimed effects are considered to be beneficial physiological effects, and which characteristics of human intervention studies can provide evidence for the scientific substantiation of specific claims.
“The guidance does not intend to provide an exhaustive list of beneficial physiological effects and studies/outcome variables which could be acceptable, or address potential health relationships and related outcome measures which have not yet been considered by the Panel in the context of a particular application,” said EFSA.