Health and Consumers Health and Consumers Health and Consumers Health and Consumers Nutrition, Health and the Consumer: An overview of activities in the EU Basil Mathioudakis Head of Unit E.4, Nutrition, food composition and information Health and Consumers Directorate General TGDF Congress, Antalya, November

Health and Consumers Health and Consumers Nutrition and Health EU Strategy Better informed consumers: Nutrition labelling Nutrition and health claims Scientific information and education campaign Making the healthy option available Promoting the consumption of fruits and vegetables Promoting the reformulation of foods to: reduce the levels of certain nutrients Improving the nutrient content of manufactured foods Regulating specific categories of foods Encouraging physical activity 2

Health and Consumers Health and Consumers 3 Binding legal measures: Regulation on Food Information to Consumers (FIC) Regulation on nutrition and health claims (NHC) Regulations on specific categories of foods Voluntary measures: Pledges in the context of the EU Platform for Action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health Variety of actions

Health and Consumers Health and Consumers Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the Provision of food information to consumers 4

Health and Consumers Health and Consumers Mandatory particulars Maintains the required information under Directive 2000/13 IN ADDITION Nutritional Information becomes mandatory 5

Health and Consumers Health and Consumers Nutrition information Mandatory energy (kilojoules and kilocalories) fat saturates carbohydrate sugars protein salt (sodium expressed as “salt” equivalents) Commission report by 13 December trans fats? 6

Health and Consumers Health and Consumers 7 The mandatory nutritional declaration can also be completed by an indication of the quantity of one or more of the following: a) mono-unsaturates b) polyunsaturates c) polyols d) starch e) fibre f)vitamins and minerals Which other nutrients may be declared

Health and Consumers Health and Consumers 8 Non pre-packed food & alcoholic drinks The content of the nutritional declaration can be limited to: A) In the case of non-prepacked foods The energy value or The energy value including the fat, saturates, sugars and salt content May be given only per portion or consumption unit B) In the case of alcoholic beverages The energy value

Health and Consumers Health and Consumers Front-of-pack nutrition information Voluntary front-of-pack labelling for energy alone OR energy, fat, saturates, sugars and salt 9

Health and Consumers Health and Consumers Additional forms of presentation and expression of the nutrient declaration Rationale Extensively discussed during the negotiations Lack of evidence across the Union on how the average consumer understands and uses such information Aim is to allow further developments within a frame Experience will show if further harmonisation is needed 10

Health and Consumers Health and Consumers Criteria for additional forms of presentation and expression of the nutrient declaration (a) Based on sound and scientifically valid consumer research, not misleading the consumer (b) Stakeholder consultation (c) Aim to facilitate consumer understanding (d) Supported by scientific evidence of understanding by the average consumer 11

Health and Consumers Health and Consumers Criteria for additional forms of presentation and expression of the nutrient declaration (e) In the case of other forms of expression, they are based either on the harmonised reference intakes, or in their absence, on generally accepted scientific advice (f) Objective and non-discriminatory (g) Their application does not hinder free movement of goods 12

Health and Consumers Health and Consumers Additional Forms of Expression and Presentation Can be developed and used by food business operators Member States may recommend to businesses one or more schemes which best fulfill the criteria, and provide the Commission with details 13

Health and Consumers Health and Consumers Monitoring, consistency and sharing of best practices Member States may require food business operators notification of additional forms of expression or presentation and provision of justifications regarding compliance with the criteria The Commission shall facilitate and organise the exchange of information between Member States, itself and stakeholders 14

Health and Consumers Health and Consumers Application of the new rules From 13 December 2014… … with exception of information related to mandatory nutrition labelling, which shall apply from 13 December 2016 Voluntary nutrition labelling after 13 December 2014 shall comply with Regulation (EU) 1169/2011 Exhaustion of stocks 15

Health and Consumers Health and Consumers Only authorised claims can be made Subject to principles and conditions Limited flexibility allowed for wording Compliance with specific conditions of use AND Compliance with other general principles and conditions Subject to compliance with nutrient profiles Permitted claims on the market 16

Health and Consumers Health and Consumers 17 Nutrition claims - List of permitted claims in Annex of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 Amendments to the Annex Health claims – Lists of permitted claims “Function” claims Reduction of disease risk claims Claims referring to children’s development and health Union lists of claims

Health and Consumers Health and Consumers Claims, where do we stand today? 30 permitted nutrition claims 253 permitted health claims 1851 not authorised health claims 2095 health claims under consideration 18

Health and Consumers Health and Consumers EU Register Interactive database List of permitted claims with wording, condition of use, restrictions List of non-authorised claims with reasons Useful additional information for stakeholders 19

Health and Consumers Health and Consumers 20 Foods can bear claims if they comply with nutrient profiles Derogations foreseen for nutrition claims Strong opposition from some food sectors / Some support from other sectors Strong support for the concept, from consumer and health NGOs Nutrient profiles

Health and Consumers Health and Consumers EU Platform for Action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health 21

Health and Consumers Health and Consumers The EU Platform for Action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health 22 Since 2005: a multi stakeholder & voluntary approach 33 EU Platform members including: Industry, Public Health NGOs, Health Professionals, Consumer Groups Members meet 4 times a year at Plenary meetings

Health and Consumers Health and Consumers The EU Platform for Action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health 256 commitments (123 active, 133 non-active) 6 activity types 1.Consumer information, including labelling 2.Education, including lifestyle modification 3.Physical activity promotion 4.Marketing & advertising 5.Composition of foods (reformulation), availability of health food options, portion sizes 6.Advocacy & information exchange

Health and Consumers Health and Consumers 24 Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 of the European Parliament and the Council on food intended for infants and young children, food for special medical purposes and total diet replacement for weight control The Regulation on Food for Specific Groups (FSG Regulation)

Health and Consumers Health and Consumers 25 By July 2015: Infant formulae (IF) and follow-on formulae (FF) Processed cereal-based foods and baby foods Food for Special Medical Purposes (FSMPs) Total Diet Replacement products for weight control including Very Low Calorie Diets (VLCDs) Rules on 'gluten-free' and 'very low gluten' under FIC, July 15 Obligations and deadlines

Health and Consumers Health and Consumers 26 Reports - by July 2015 – on: Milk-based drinks and similar products intended for young children (so-called 'growing up milks') Foods intended for sports people  Consider necessity of rules  After EFSA's consultation  May be accompanied by legislative proposals Obligations and deadlines (2)