The EU Regulation on health and nutritional claims was passed in 2007, but only came into full force in 2012 when claims that did not meet the criteria set out in the Policy were banned.
The regulation covers 'functional foods' - foods that claim to have an impact on helath - and nutritional claims made by foods.
The Regulation was put in place to protect consumers. It sets out clear standards which health claims have to be used in any commercial communication by companies such as branding and marketing.
Claims are only allowed to be made if they are supported by generally accepted scientific evidence and are clear. Each claim has to have been demonstrated by scientific trials and a group of scientists within the EU decide is the claims have enough support to be allowed. In addition, they set out very strict rules for how the claim can be made. This prevents health claims being exagerated.
Claims that suggest your health could be neagitively impacted by not consuming a product are banned.
Claims fall into two groups:
- General function claims - these cover growth, development, weight control and energy availabilty. For more information, click here.
- New function claims - these cover child development, health adn disease reduction. For more information, click here
