The Belgian Medicines Agency (AFMPS) has published further detail
of draft amendments to a Royal Decree that may switch the
classification of 250 herbal products from food and food supplement
ingredients to medicines.
Members of Friesland Foods and Campina have voted in favour of the
proposed merger, marking a major step forward in bringing the two
dairy cooperatives and companies together.
Italy and Germany are the two largest single markets for
nutraceutical products in Western Europe, followed by the UK and
France, according to a recent market overview.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has rejected dossiers
backing 120 nutrient sources for ongoing use within the European
Union because they were deemed "not to be adequate".
A vegetarian glucosamine ingredient from China-based Hygeia Health
has been determined by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI)
as equivalent to current glucosamine on the market.
A 'soft landing solution' for the abolition of milk production
quotas within the EU is expected to ensure a smoother transition
for the industry than abruptly scrapping the system, according to a
new report.
Poland has established a government-backed group briefed with
developing criteria relating to the classification of a range of
nutrients under either food or medicine law.
The European Commission's ambassador to the United States, John
Bruton, has strongly criticized proposals that would tax imported
dairy products to pay for US promotional programs.
Industry groups have criticised a European Food Safety Authority
(EFSA) working group over the "medicinal approach" being favoured
for regulating botanical supplements.
Whether you call it parmesan or "Parmigiano Reggiano" the
famous hard cheese must now come from a specific area of Italy, the
European Court of Justice has ruled this week.
A model which could be used to set the upper limits for minerals
and vitamins under EU law has been updated by UK scientists to
include more current data and categories for nutrients.
Debate has been stirred in the UK over a future that could see GM
foods on supermarket shelves, as the government's outgoing chief
scientific advisor said he believes GM food to be safer than
convention food.
Yesterday's landmark decision by the European Court of Justice,
ruling Germany failed to fulfil its obligations concerning the free
movement of goods by refusing to import garlic extract powder
capsules, has paved the way for...
Placing botanical products on the European market can be difficult
for businesses because of a lack of harmonisation and differing
rules between member states, the European Advisory Service has
said.
The future of research into the ability of phytochemicals to treat
modern disease lies in Asia because of restrictive laws and
"cynicism", a UK based research company has said.
The European Commission has launched an inquiry into allegations
that Chinese suppliers are dumping citric acid onto the market and
causing material injury to the European industry.
The European Court of Justice's opinion to not allow Germany to
label garlic supplements as a medicine has been seen as a fine
example of the intended use principle winning out.
The European food and beverage probiotics market is expected to
more than double by 2013, according to a market report, with the
proposed EU health claims rules presenting "untapped" potential.
The European Commission has issued a paper to Member States
outlining the next step for the setting of maximum mineral and
vitamin levels across the bloc - with many highlighted for
exemption on the grounds of no evident safety concerns.
The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) is urging its
members to refrain from using genetically modified (GM) herbal
ingredients until environmental and health concerns can be
effectively addressed.
The Association of the European Self-Medication Industry (AESGP) is
organising a conference on how new EU regulations will have a
bearing on herbal products for later this year in Brussels.
The Global Organisation for EPA and DHA Omega-3 (GOED) has added
its voice to concerns that the new EU hygiene laws will spell a
European wide shortage of omega-3.
The European Botanical Forum has said there needs to be changes to
the health and nutrition claims regulation, which does not include
any reference to the traditional use of botanicals as food
ingredients.
Friesland Foods this week announced plans to scale down
its production facilities in the Netherlands in a bid to brace
itself for wide scale changes within the EU's dairy market.
Cheese processors in the UK have been handed tougher guidance on
hygiene, following EU claims that the country's food safety
authority was not doing enough to protect consumers.
French botanicals supplier Naturex is acquiring Italian player HP
Botanicals - building on the strong base it has been establishing
in the European market in parallel to its American interests.
The European Commission is set to challenge Spain over its ban on
the import of herbal products before the European Court of Justice
- a policy it says is an unjustified and disproportionate barrier
to EU trade.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has said that it will not
bow to industry pressure over scientific assessment of vitamins and
minerals submitted for the positive list of the 2002 food
supplements directive.
The Alliance for Natural Health has informed the European
Commission that it is scrutinising its procedures on food
supplements and those of EFSA, and may launch a legal challenge if
any of its 15 'test' submissions to the...
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 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.
Chinese ingredients supplier Fenchem has received novel foods
notification for its Cholevel plant sterols in the EU, opening up
the way for the ingredient's direct use in foods.
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.
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...
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.
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...
Chinese ingredients supplier Fenchem is seeking substantial
equivalence for its Cholevel branded phytosterol under European
novel foods legislation, which it expects will be a big spark for
the product line.
The traditional diet in many Eastern European countries relies
heavily on fatty foods like red meat and less emphasis is given to
vegetables as elsewhere. But as consumers become more aware of the
link between diet and health, companies...