03.04.22
The EU Food Supplements Directive, a regulatory platform which was a springboard for the dietary supplements sector’s effective functioning in Europe, reached its 20th anniversary. The trade association Food Supplements Europe (FSE), said that it was this program that established dietary supplements as a mainstream food category in the regional market, and provided consumers with confidence in the safety of products sold in this market.
The directive also proved to have global influence, and served as a model for regulation and a touchstone for formulating cross-border agreements for the international supplements market. Prior to adoption of the Food Supplements Directive, the EU’s supplement sector was growing in popularity but there was no specific regional legislation to ensure products on the market were safe and that supplement users were not being misled, according to FSE.
The legal framework, established under food law and based on notification of products instead of registration, represented a major leap forward for nutritional substances that can be used in food supplements as sources of nutrients, FSE added.
“The primary goal of the Food Supplements Directive, when it was adopted two decades ago, was to protect EU consumers,” Patrick Coppens, FSE’s director of scientific and regulatory affairs, said. “It has largely achieved this objective. As we mark the 20th anniversary of the directive, FSE believes now is a good moment to reflect on the future of the industry and on how supplementation can enable the EU to meet the social challenges we face. Europe is finally emerging from the worst of the coronavirus pandemic, which has encouraged many to think about the role of supplements in helping to increase resilience and maintain wellbeing. Accordingly, FSE is already engaging policymakers and other stakeholders in conversations about the value of supplementation for individuals and society.”
“We can feel rightly proud of the positive impact of the Food Supplements Directive,” Martina Simova, chair of FSE, said. “For 20 years, it has provided clarity and nurtured an environment in which reputable businesses can operate and thrive. It has struck a balance between consumer safety and access to supplements. This anniversary gives us the perfect opportunity to explore how we can build on the success of the past two decades and give fresh consideration to the role of supplements in nutrition and health policy. Reflecting this, FSE’s work in the coming months and years will focus on how the industry can help EU member states achieve their health policy goals and build more resilient communities across Europe.”
The directive also proved to have global influence, and served as a model for regulation and a touchstone for formulating cross-border agreements for the international supplements market. Prior to adoption of the Food Supplements Directive, the EU’s supplement sector was growing in popularity but there was no specific regional legislation to ensure products on the market were safe and that supplement users were not being misled, according to FSE.
The legal framework, established under food law and based on notification of products instead of registration, represented a major leap forward for nutritional substances that can be used in food supplements as sources of nutrients, FSE added.
“The primary goal of the Food Supplements Directive, when it was adopted two decades ago, was to protect EU consumers,” Patrick Coppens, FSE’s director of scientific and regulatory affairs, said. “It has largely achieved this objective. As we mark the 20th anniversary of the directive, FSE believes now is a good moment to reflect on the future of the industry and on how supplementation can enable the EU to meet the social challenges we face. Europe is finally emerging from the worst of the coronavirus pandemic, which has encouraged many to think about the role of supplements in helping to increase resilience and maintain wellbeing. Accordingly, FSE is already engaging policymakers and other stakeholders in conversations about the value of supplementation for individuals and society.”
“We can feel rightly proud of the positive impact of the Food Supplements Directive,” Martina Simova, chair of FSE, said. “For 20 years, it has provided clarity and nurtured an environment in which reputable businesses can operate and thrive. It has struck a balance between consumer safety and access to supplements. This anniversary gives us the perfect opportunity to explore how we can build on the success of the past two decades and give fresh consideration to the role of supplements in nutrition and health policy. Reflecting this, FSE’s work in the coming months and years will focus on how the industry can help EU member states achieve their health policy goals and build more resilient communities across Europe.”
