Brussels, 04/03/2010 (Agence Europe) - The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published its second series of scientific opinions on the list of general function health claims compiled by member states and the European Commission pursuant to the European regulation which harmonises nutrition and health claims made on food in the EU (Regulation 1924/2006 amended by Regulation 109/2008/EC). A first series of opinions on over 500 health claims had been published in October 2009 (EUROPE 9990).
Experts making up the scientific panel on dietary products, nutrition and allergies (the NDA Panel) have this time evaluated scientific evidence submitted by claimants to support 416 health claims. Opinions were addressed to the Commission and to member states which, in the end, will have to decide whether or not to authorise such claims.
In a press release, EFSA states that evaluations by the NDA Panel were positive where there was sufficient scientific evidence available to support the claim, such as those related to vitamins and minerals. Experts issued unfavourable opinions on most of the claims in the second series due to the poor quality of the information provided by EFSA. There were three kinds of information lacking: - information to identify the substance on which the claim was based, e.g. “probiotics”; - evidence that the claimed effect is indeed beneficial to the maintenance or improvement of the functions of the body (e.g. food with “antioxidant properties”); - and human studies with reliable measures of the claimed health benefit. EFSA states in this respect that the NDA Panel does not have a predetermined formula concerning the number or the type of studies required for justification of a health claim. It takes into consideration all the relevant scientific data.
If EFSA publishes its opinions series after series, this is due to the very high number of health claims that it has to assess and the obligation imposed on it to publish its opinions shortly after they have been adopted, in a concern to ensure transparency.
EFSA plans to complete its work by 2011. To date, some 4,000 assessments have been submitted to it. A very precise timetable will be established in collaboration with the European Commission, taking into account additional claims that may have to be evaluated. (A.N./transl.jl)