Press Release: ANH clarifies EU Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation

ANH PROVIDES IMPORTANT CLARIFICATION ON NUTRITION AND HEALTH CLAIMS REGULATION

24 August 2007

The ANH is concerned that comments reportedly attributed to Chris Whitehouse concerning the EU Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation (NHCR) have misinformed retailers and may cause retailers and other suppliers to panic unnecessarily (Natural Products, Retailers Club Conference Report, July/August 2007). The ANH fully recognises the massive impact that the Regulation will have on the industry, but it is critical that correct information about the Regulation is provided to those who are likely to be most affected.

Mr Whitehouse is right that the NHCR has come into force on 1 July 2007, but the article makes no mention of all important transition measures under Article 27 of the Regulation, which will prevent immediate impacts of many products carrying health or nutrition claims which are not currently approved under the Regulation.

The Regulation states that foods placed on the market or labelled prior to 1 July 2007 which do not comply with the Regulation