The new members include The Association of Dietetic and Complementary Food Companies (AFEPADI) of Spain, the Swiss Association of Nutrition Industries, The Italian Society of Applied Sciences for medicinal plants and products for health (SISTE) and Slovenia’s SFSA.
In addition Swisse Wellness, an Australian-based supplements supplier, has become an FSE company member.
“The fact that national food supplements associations increasingly become a member of FSE is recognition of the work that we have been carrying out over the last years and the value that we can bring at the EU level,” said Patrick Coppens, director of regulatory and scientific affairs at FSE.
“This is hugely important given that in the next few years the European Commission is set to tale decisions that are likely to affect over 90% of all products that are currently being marketed (e.g. on botanicals and maximum levels).
“It is also good to see that new national associations are being created, because keeping updated of these developments and help build solutions that are suitable for all EU Member States is key for national associations and FSE is at the forefront of this.”
FSE aims and objectives
Based in Brussels, the FSE now boast 14 national associations and 16 companies as members, which include BASF, DSM, Lonza and Nestle Health Science.
Created to raise awareness of the benefits of food supplements for public health, FSE has been proactive in building an understanding of how supplements can benefit consumers and the general public alike.
“FSE has undertaken research to show that intervention with specific food supplements not only reduces the burden of disability cause by a number of chronic diseases (e.g. CVD, osteoporosis), but can also offer significant cost savings for public health,” explained Coppens.
“As an example, simple supplementation with omega 3 fatty acids can lead to a cost saving of €64.5 bn over 5 years.”
FSE are due to make an appearance at the 4th Congress Hidden Hunger next week in Stuttgart and later in the year at the 13th FENS European Nutrition Conference in Dublin in October.
“We see it as essential that governments recognise that food supplements can be an integral part of their public health recommendations,” said Coppens.
“It is encouraging that more and more organisations start recommending supplementation with Vitamin D, folic acid, etc and we will continue to underpin this case with strong scientific data.”
Boosting AFEPADI visibility
AFEPADI said the objectives and vision of the FSE coincided with the group’s principles adding, “For this reason, the Association has considered it appropriate to take this step in order to make our work more visible outside our borders.
“For AFEPADI, we consider it of utmost importance to have a valid European interlocutor who is a key driver for a sustainable European market and a competitive industry.
“It is also a great opportunity to draw a strategic vision of the sector in an increasingly complex regulatory environment in Europe.”