Commission Midday Express, 20 October 2010
The European Commission welcomes the publication of the European Food Safety Authority's (EFSA) third set of opinions covering more than 800 health claims on food products (also known as "Article 13 claims"). It follows the publication of the first two series of opinions published on 1 October 2009 and on 25 February 2010. The three sets of opinions cover more than 1,700 health claims of the approximately 4,600 submitted for scientific advice.
In total, the Member States submitted to the Commission more than 44,000 health claims. The Commission consolidated these into a list of approximately 4,600. Due to the large number of health claims received and the delay in submissions by stakeholders to Member States, the deadline of 31 January 2010, stipulated in the Health Claims Regulation, for the adoption of a list of permitted health claims could not be met. In line with the review of the approach announced on 27 September 2010 (IP/10/1176), EFSA is expected by the end of June 2011 to finalise its assessment of all claims on substances other than so-called "botanicals".
The Commission will then immediately follow up in order to establish in one step the list of permitted health claims for all substances other than "botanicals." Subsequently, consideration will be given to the claims concerning the "botanicals" (which include, for example, Linum usitatissimum, Aloe barbadensis, Hypericum perforatum, Echinacea pallida).
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