Regulation (EC) 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods.
This legislation harmonises European legislation on health and nutrition claims that may be made on foods. In essence it:
- Protects consumers from false, exaggerated, ambiguous or misleading health claims made on products by requiring claims are authorized on the basis of robust and reviewable scientific evidence.
- For nutrition claims made on foods through fortification that the added levels must be significant, generally.
- “Contains” type claims must contain at least 15% RDA per 100g/100ml or single packaged serving.
- High” type claims must contain at least 30% RDA per 100g/100ml or single packaged serving.
- The so called “Article 4” establishes a framework that will in the future possibly prohibit health and nutritional claims being made on products whose “nutrient profile” does not meet specific criteria. This is to prevent food products with high salt, saturated fat and sugar content being marketed as “healthy”.
- Sets a framework for publication of generally accepted health claims.
- Sets a framework for making and submitting more specific health claims for approval by the EU.
