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Request for Action on Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation
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This regulation which is currently being implemented by the EU Commission threatens to seriously impact upon what we can say about foods and products to our customers. Examples of recently rejected claims by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) (the EU Dept responsible for assessing claims), shows how ludicrous this Regulation is, include:
- a claim that fibre helps to maintain a healthy digestive system was rejected because the EFSA will only investigate claimed benefits of one substance that must be isolated from it's natural carriers and dietary fibre is a food component that is made up of a number of substances;
- The claim submitted for prunes with the claim that they aid digestion. This was rejected because the claim was submitted with evidence based on traditional knowledge and they will not accept this, requiring instead an extensive scientific study to support the claim!
- The Chair of the EFSA has confirmed that at least 95% of claims applications are expected to be rejected, not because of lack of evidence, but because of serious flaws within the process!
The NAHS are currently working with the HFMA in it's quest to continue to prioritise efforts to ameliorate the disproportionate impact this Regulation may bring.
It is vital that both Europe and the UK Government understand the impact that this regulation may have on our industry and it is vital that you understand how serious an impact this regulation may make on your business.
To that end, we have attached a draft letter which we are asking members to send directly to Commissioner Dalli, who has responsibility for this policy area at the European Commission. The letter is intended to remind him that profits, jobs and future investment are likely to be substantially affected by the unintended consequences of this badly thought out Regulation. Everything possible is being done with regard to this legislation and we are seeking to keep up pressure for him to intervene.
It's not just in the UK that this regulation is causing concern, but all around Euope and Trade associations around Europe are circulating the draft letter to their members in the hope that we can generate several hundred letters to demonstrate the depth and breadth of concern.
Do feel free to personalise the letter in your own style, but I hope that you will consider sending something along these lines on your own business letterhead to Mr Dalli as soon as possible.
It would also help keep up pressure on the UK Government if you were to send a copy of your letter to the Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley, as follows:
Rt Hon Andrew Lansley CBE MP
Secretary of State for Health
Department of Health
Richmond House
79 Whitehall
London SW1A 2NS
Please, don't leave it to everyone else! We need YOU to send this letter to Commissioner Dalli, copied to Andrew Lansley, and we would also very much appreciate a copy for our records and so that we can forward on to the HFMA.
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2010 NAHS Retailer of the Year Julie Goodwin of Natural Health, Welwyn Garden City receives her award from NAHS Chairman Wendy Atkinson and Gillian McKeith |
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