Hawaiian microalgae specialist Cyanotech has received the green
light to sell its astaxanthin in the EU under novel foods
regulations, opening up a new market that it says has great
potential for the antioxidant ingredient.
New Zealand is proposing to update its dietary supplement
regulations to take into account new food-like delivery formats
that have emerged in the 20 years since they were drawn up.
Australian marine fucoidan extractor Marinova has extended the
applications of its products for dietary supplements by securing
halal and kosher certification.
The European Botanical Forum has proposed a model for assessing the
safety of botanicals for use in food supplements – including a
'negative list' of botanics that should not be used due to safety
concerns – which it hopes...
The regulatory status of supplements sold out of the Channel
Islands is under the spotlight in the UK, as a House of Commons
motion urges a strategy to address unfair and illegal competition
to protect consumers and responsible businesses.
Debate over fortification of certain foods with folic acid has been
initiated at EU-level, as various member states mull public health
strategies for reducing pregnancies affected by neural tube
defects.
The International Alliance of Dietary/Food Supplement Associations
(IADSA) is highlighting the need for industry to engage in debate
over levels of additives in supplements under Codex guidelines to
prevent the setting of levels too...
The UK Food Standard Agency's expert advisory committee on novel
foods is consulting on draft opinions on applications on the
substantial equivalence of two novel ingredients.
The European Parliament is next month set to vote on a report that
calls obesity a "European epidemic" and proposes that all countries
implement certain measures to combat the growing condition.
EFSA's scientific panel has an opinion that the use of polyethylene
glycol as film coating for food supplements at six grades would not
present a risk at proposed levels, which will be used to inform the
EC's decision on...
The bonds between the Japanese and European functional foods
industries are strengthening, as industry and regulators recognise
the mutual benefits of working together.
Food industry and consumer groups are poles apart over the question
of mandatory nutrition labelling, according to the results of a
public consultation conducted last year, with government opinion
somewhere between the two.
The Hungarian Ministry of Health has today released a list of
over-the-counter drugs including high-dose vitamins that can now be
sold in the country's supermarkets and petrol stations, where
previously they were available only...
The possibility of setting maximum levels for bioactive substances
in foods and supplements looks set to be a global regulatory theme
for 2007, with the EC, several governments and the Codex committee
considering the need for risk...
The past 12 months have seen several important developments on the
European regulatory scene, which will play a big role in shaping
the supplements and health foods industries for the future.
The UK's Food Standards Agency has launched a final consultation
into mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid - an action
that coincides with publication of the SACN recommendation to press
ahead with the measure.
The new European health and nutrition claims regulation and food
fortification regulation will enter into force in January
2007, as the EC decides not the wait for adoption of the comitology
amendments.
Publication of the new European health and nutrition claims and
food fortification regulations has been delayed until next spring -
a scenario that should affect nothing but the timescale for
entering into force, although experts...
As the regulatory landscape for supplements in Asia is shifting
towards greater harmonisation, officials from around the globe can
pool knowledge and learn from each others' systems, according to
IADSA.
The UK's food standards agency has launched a consultation into the
addition of calcium-L-methylfolate and ferrous bisglycinate to the
positive list of vitamins and minerals.
The first summary of responses to the EC discussion paper on
vitamin and mineral levels was presented in Brussels last week,
said to have identified the principle problems ahead of the next
stage.
EU stakeholders are moving closer to consensus over the setting of
maximum vitamin and mineral levels for the EU, said speakers at
Friday's EHPM/ERNA conference in Brussels, which unfolded without
major aggravation between participants.
The setting of maximum vitamin and mineral levels across the EU is
still a hot topic in the UK House of Commons, with a new motion put
down this week calling on ministers to do all they can to protect
the natural health products industry...
Malnutrition is not usually associated with the prosperous west,
but according to the European Nutrition for Health Alliance (ENHA),
which is lobbying for public health action at EU level, more than
50m Europeans are at risk.
Cinnamon dietary supplements in Germany carrying health claims to
reduce blood sugar and help control type-2 diabetes should be
classed as 'medicinal products', and regulated as such, two federal
institutes have said.
A proposal to charge companies fees for assessments by the European
Food Safety Agency (EFSA) would impose too heavy of a financial
burden on companies, says an industry consultant.
Cholesterol-lowering margarines are set to be joined by
cholesterol-lowering milks, yoghurts and cereals as Australia and
New Zealand's food authority finally approves the new categories.
EFSA is regarding its role in implementing the new European
nutrition and health claims regulation as both an opportunity and a
challenge, but is concerned about the timeframe it will have to
evaluate.
This month's European conference on setting maximum amounts for
vitamins and minerals in the EU will include the first review of
responses to the EC discussion document, and outline the next steps
in the process.
Food companies need to start taking into account of impending new
EU health claims regulations, even though the different aspects
will not come into effect for between one and four years, said
speakers at the Healthy Foods Summit...
A recommendation to introduce mandatory folic acid fortification
for Australia and New Zealand's bakers will come under further
review, said the country's ministers yesterday.
The controversial plan to establish a joint authority to regulate
Australia and New Zealand's therapeutic products sector, including
complementary medicines, took a step forward this week with the
publication of consultation...
European food companies are already being asked to submit health
claims for approval to agencies at national level, following the
adoption of the new EU regulation on nutrition and health claims
last week.
The Indian Food Safety and Standards Bill 2005 has been signed into
law, promising a significant impact on the Indian dietary
supplement industry, and opening up a potential market of one
billion people for dietary supplement companies...
Following months of wrangling and a last minute delay, the new EU
regulation on nutrition and health claims was finally adopted
yesterday by the EU Council of Ministers and looks likely to come
into force next January.
The UK has made public its response to the EC discussion document
on vitamin and mineral levels, in which it adheres strongly to the
approach of its Export Group on Vitamins and Minerals (EMV) and
recommends it be applied to the EU...
An application to add calcium to chewing gum has been lodged with
Food Standards Australia New Zealand by Wrigley's, which would
allow gum sold in Australia to be fortified with the mineral for
the first time.
A meeting between the EC's directorate general for health and
consumer protection and the UK's food safety watchdog was 'positive
and constructive', according to FSA chair Deirdre Hutton.
The UK's Food Standards Agency has launched a consultation on the
marketing of foods for particular nutritional purposes (Parnuts),
which it expects will enable it to protect the consumer against
fraud.
The board of the UK's Food Standards Agency yesterday agreed the
draft response to the EC discussion document on vitamin and mineral
levels with only minor changes, paving the way to approval of the
final response by government...
The EC yesterday launched a communication on the EU Distance
Selling Directive aimed at preventing rogue traders exploiting
loopholes created by new technologies and eroding consumer
confidence in products commonly sold in this way,...
The new European Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation hit an
unexpected barrier to its adoption yesterday, since it was found to
contain the wrong comitology procedure. Rectifying the oversight
could take months and may re-open...
The French government has launched the second phase of its
long-term initiative to combat rising obesity and promote healthier
eating, which includes campaigns to raise public awareness of
nutritional foods and the importance of taking...
The directors of the consumer group, Consumers For Health Choice
(CHC), have released their final version of the comments submitted
to the European Commission regarding the Maximum and Minimum
Permitted Levels for Vitamins and Minerals...
Spain's Lipofoods is seeking to enter the competitive European
phytosterols market, asking the UK's Food Standards Agency for an
opinion on the equivalence of its soya-derived ingredient to that
of ADM previously authorised...
Consumers must be able to make an informed choice about the
vitamins and minerals they consume in supplements and functional
foods, FSA stakeholders stressed at the first of two meetings to
help the agency formulate a response to...
