The EU health claims regulation: impact on the marine lipids

Abstract

European Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 applies to all types of pre-packed foods for the final consumer, including food intended to supply hospitals, canteens and similar mass caterers, bearing nutrition and health claims. Commercial communications (labelling, presentation or advertising of foods), trade names and other brand names which may be construed as nutrition or health claims are covered by the Regulation. Since the date it was brought into force (1st July 2007), all nutrition and health claims for food products must be authorised prior to the marketing of the products, either by means of a nominative evaluation procedure or a generic evaluation. In light of the provisions of the new Regulation and the transitional measures in effect, what is the future of lipid ‘health communication’ and more particularly of marine lipid communication? For certain lipids of marine origin (e.g., EPA, DHA, etc.) play an unquestionable nutritional – not to say health – role in the human diet, a fact which is widely accepted by the scientific community.

Keywords

• health claims
• nutritional claims
• regulation (EC) No 1924/2006
• community register
• marine lipids
• polyunsaturated fatty acids
• omega-3 fatty acids