Food Law News - UK - 1996
3 December 1996: “PARNUTS” FOODS - Draft Energy Restricted Foods Regulations
MAFF Letter, 3 December 1996
Draft "Foods Intended for Use in Energy Restricted Diets for Weight Reduction Regulations 1997"
Following the adoption by the European Community of Commission Directive 96/8 on energy restricted diets for weight reduction, the Ministry has now issued draft regulations to implement the Directive. Implementation has to be by 30 September 1997 with a transition until 31 March 1999.
The Draft Regulations contain:
- A definition of "relevant food" - specially formulated food intended for use in energy-restricted diets for weight reduction, being food which complies with the compositional requirements in Schedule 1 and which, when used as instructed by the manufacturer, replaces: (a) the whole of the total daily diet; or (b) one or more meals of the daily diet.
- Restrictions on the name of the food and compositional requirements -
- No person shall sell any relevant food under any name other than "total diet replacement for weight control" or "meal replacement for weight control" as appropriate.
- No person shall sell any food using the names in a) unless it is a "relevant food".
- Labelling requirements - The Regulations specify the information which has to be given on the label.
- Weight loss claim - No person shall sell any relevant food the labelling, advertising or presentation of which refers to the rate or amount of weight loss which may result from its use or to a reduction in the sense of hunger or an increase in the sense of satiety.
- Packaging - All components of a relevant food intended as a replacement for the whole of the daily diet must be contained in the same package.
- Transitional Defence - It is a defence to prove that an act contrary to the requirements of the Regulations was committed before 31 March 1999
There are 2 Schedules relating to composition:
- Schedule 1 indicates the "Essential Composition of Relevant Foods" including energy, protein, fat, dietary fibre, vitamins and minerals.
- Schedule 2 provides the "Amino Acid Requirement Pattern" and is referred to in Schedule 1 under protein.
The Ministry has asked for comments by 28 February 1997