Tag: health claims

Food companies may no longer be able to register normal food products as "dietetic" as the European Commission is proposing to abolish the concept from EU legislation altogether.

The European Commission has decided to delay a proposal regarding permitted health claims made on foods until the end of 2011, following concerns by industry and the incapacity of the European Food Safety Agency to deal with the submitted dossiers.

The European Heart Network (EHN) called on MEPs to back "fair presentation" of the nutritional content of food products and called on the industry to be "more modest with marketing" ahead of a European Parliament vote tomorrow (16 June) on an EU proposal to regulate food information to consumers.

French food group Danone withdrew health claim applications on two of its bestselling yoghurts on Thursday (15 April), citing confusion about what scientific evidence was required from the company under the process to validate the claims.

As the EU's health and nutrition claims-Regulation enters into force, any new claims made on food will now have to be examined by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and approved by the Commission.

The Parliament's ENVI Committee has adopted its recommendation for the Parliament's second reading on the regulation on health claims in food and drink.

EU health ministers are unanimously backing the need to prove health claims scientifically before giving food producers authorisation to make these claims on their products.

The Health Council has taken note of the progress on nutrition and health claims made on foods since July 2003 and discussed issues such as the paediatrics proposal and the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Before extending the EU's powers further in public health, more consideration should be given to the health impact of existing EU policies, says Angela Coulter, Chief Executive of Picker Institute Europe.

The EP's Environment Committee has been unable to reach a compromise on the controversial 'claims' proposal. It will now be up to the new parliament to adopt a position later this year.

UK scientists have played down the health implications of mobile phones but recommend that further research be carried out into possible health effects caused by exposure to their electromagnetic fields.

The Environment Council on 27 October 2003 insisted on the inclusion of meaningful indicators for biodiversity and health in the list of structural indicators for the Spring Report 2004.

The Commission proposed a new regulation on 16 July to fight unsubstantiated nutritional and health claims used on food labels.

Dr Supachai Panitchpakdi, Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), warned of the serious challenges still facing the Doha trade and development negotiations.

With the upcoming EU enlargement, CPME President Dr. Brettenthaler expects an increased migration of doctors and patients from candidate countries.

EU Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner David Byrne revealed on 31 January that a new proposal was due to come out soon that calls for verifiable health claims on food labels.

A survey on EU enlargement and health, conducted by the European Public Health Alliance, shows that candidate countries demand more funding, access to policy makers, quality information, and opportunities for networking.

A new organisation - Consilient Health - was launched in Brussels on 28 March to facilitate the integration of pharmaceutical companies from the Central European candidate countries into the European Union.