New European legislation on health claims

New European legislation on health claims, in brief.

A European law has been published on health claims. This law determines which claims on health benefits are allowed when you add specific products in the food or dietary supplements category, such as on the packaging, on a website or in brochures. It is limited in promoting the sale of specific products by a ban on health claims that have not been approved by the EFSA (European Food and Safety Authority). One retains the freedom of expression and may claim generic active substances but not in relation to a product (if that claim is not approved). Industry has had years of time to submit health claims for products or substances and all health claims have been scientifically tested by EFSA.

Effects
Only 10 percent of the health claims examined have met the procedure and scientific review. There are many health claims for vitamins and minerals. These are ingredients that have been tested very well and have been used for years. However, there are also many health claims that have not been obtained. Especially for new ingredients, as co-enzyme Q10 for energy or lutein for eye health. A large part of the dietary supplements will no longer contain information about what is happening to health and the consumer will be forced to seek this information elsewhere.

personal advice
The one-on-one advisory role of the therapist or drugstore becomes larger when the consumer can no longer consult the packaging for information. You are free to advise and claim what you are convinced, based on your knowledge and experience.

Note:
In articles or brochures, substantiated claims can be made as long as they are not linked to a particular product.

What does this mean for Jingz?
Jingz has no claims on the labels.
Products will always be delivered on personal advice unless you already have sufficient knowledge about the operation of our products.
Why have so few claims been approved? What went wrong?
The health claims for food and nutritional supplements have been assessed according to the same standards as those for medicines. The scientific assessment has ignored the fundamental differences between food and medicine. Claims for drugs are easy to substantiate, as effects are more readily apparent in patients (even aside from unwanted side effects of foreign substances). Health effects of nutrition on healthy people are more nuanced and sometimes only noticeable after long periods of use. That makes the effects of food on health difficult to prove. According to the EFSA, the investigation may not have been done to patients or people with health problems, while many of the evidence submitted was found to exist.