07.01.11
The threat of an EU-wide ban on the use of article 13.1 claims on the European Commission’s negative register is not expected before next summer, according to international food policy consultancy EAS. Stefanie Geiser, EAS regulatory affairs manager, said as the European Commission has indicated it intends to present its proposal for an article 13.1 “Union list” of claims to the Standing Committee for discussion and potential adoption only by the end of 2011, it was unlikely that any ban on rejected claims would come into force before spring or summer 2012.
The European Commission is awaiting the final batches of article 13.1 claims opinions from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), expected in September, before it can finalize its proposal for the Union list. EFSA has completed 80% of its article 13.1 claims assessments for all substances excluding botanicals, with around 600 claims still to be assessed.
EFSA issued a set of 442 article 13.1 claims opinions in April, of which Ms. Geiser said only 22% were positive, with nearly one third of those having already been assessed before. Food companies will need to develop new approaches to communication and marketing if EU authorities adopt EFSA opinions as they stand, she added.
The European Commission is awaiting the final batches of article 13.1 claims opinions from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), expected in September, before it can finalize its proposal for the Union list. EFSA has completed 80% of its article 13.1 claims assessments for all substances excluding botanicals, with around 600 claims still to be assessed.
EFSA issued a set of 442 article 13.1 claims opinions in April, of which Ms. Geiser said only 22% were positive, with nearly one third of those having already been assessed before. Food companies will need to develop new approaches to communication and marketing if EU authorities adopt EFSA opinions as they stand, she added.