Food Law News - EU - 2015

EFSA News in brief, 20 July 2015

CLAIMS - EFSA Public consultation: health claims guidance

EFSA has begun a public consultation on its updated general guidance for the evaluation of health claims. Interested parties have until 11 September to submit comments on the draft document.

The original guidance was published in 2011, since when EFSA's Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA Panel) has gained considerable experience in the evaluation of claims. In light of this experience and taking into account comments received in previous consultations, at stakeholder meetings and via EFSA's Applications Helpdesk, the Panel decided that a number of issues needed to be further clarified to assist applicants in preparing and submitting their health claims for scientific evaluation.

The guidance aims to give applicants an understanding of:

• the general principles which the NDA Panel applies to the scientific evaluation of health claim applications;
• the elements – scientific, administrative and procedural –which applicants should consider when compiling their applications.

For more details, see the ‘Public consultation on the draft general scientific guidance for stakeholders on health claim applications’ page on the EFSA website: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/consultations/call/150717