09.01.03
From a regulatory perspective, there has been a lot of activity in the area of supplements and foods around the globe. In the U.S., FDA has issued guidances on a new review process for qualified health claims on food labels as part of its initiative to provide better information to consumers. To this, FDA unveiled its new “grading” system for qualified health claims. This ranking system will categorize the quality and strength of the scientific evidence—for example, through the equivalent of a B, C, or D grading system—to every proposed qualified health claim. The highest grade, “A” or the equivalent, means that there is significant scientific agreement (SSA) about the health claim.
Moving north, Canada has finalized its Natural Health Product Regulations in Canada Gazette Part II. These new regulations call for improved labeling, good manufacturing practices, product and site licensing and provisions for a full range of health claims that will be supported by evidence.
Lastly, the European Commission has proposed legislation on nutrition and health claims made on foods, including food supplements. The overall purpose of the proposed regulation is to restrict health and nutrition claims made on these types of products. (For more detailed information on all of these recent developments see page 26.)
Moving north, Canada has finalized its Natural Health Product Regulations in Canada Gazette Part II. These new regulations call for improved labeling, good manufacturing practices, product and site licensing and provisions for a full range of health claims that will be supported by evidence.
Lastly, the European Commission has proposed legislation on nutrition and health claims made on foods, including food supplements. The overall purpose of the proposed regulation is to restrict health and nutrition claims made on these types of products. (For more detailed information on all of these recent developments see page 26.)