*UPDATED* Destroying myths and misunderstandings of the EU health claims Regulation

EPHA is closely following the developments in the EP of the Commission’s draft Regulation on nutrition and health claims made on foods.

Articles 4 and 11 are the most controversials (on nutrition profiles and implied health claims).

Three Committees of the EP were in charge of writing reports and opinions on the Commission proposal. Although there was a general agreement amongst political groups that article 4 would stay, it was deleted from the proposal by the ENVI Committee. However there is still a posibility that this article will be put back in the Regulation at the Plenary.

The plenary of the European Parliament will vote on the Regulation on 26 May 2005 in Brussels.

EPHA and other health and consumer NGOs: EUROCARE, EUROCOOP, EHN and PGEU, have written a position paper where they explain the importance of nutrient profiles to the purposes, scope and implications of the Regulation.

On 9 December 2005, the 25 EU Health Ministries approved the Council’s common position on the Commission’s proposal on nutrition and health claims. This is a positive step in terms of consumer protection and public health, as the common position confirms the use of nutrient profiles in food manufacture and authorisation of foods bearing health claims.