Health Claims Regulation
At the heart of all health-related claims is the so-called Health Claims Regulation (EC) No. 1924/2006: health claims must comply with this regulation and may only be used if they have been explicitly approved. Approved health claims make it possible to position food supplements safely within the healthcare sector. For many ingredients and their associated claims, the European Commission has published a positive list in Regulation (EU) No. 432/2012. Additionally, there is an option to use individually applied-for claims for botanicals during a transitional period; however, according to a European Court of Justice ruling, a scientific rationale must always be provided as evidence of plausibility.
Voluntary Health-Related Statements
Adding voluntary health-related claims to food packaging triggers additional mandatory information requirements under Regulation (EC) No. 1924/2006. For example, the Health Claims Regulation stipulates that any food business operator who intends to use this type of promotional wording on their packaging must include a notice on the importance of a varied and balanced diet.
Diapharm supports food manufacturers — especially producers of food supplements — in meeting labelling obligations, making the most of labelling opportunities, and minimizing the risk of regulatory objections.
