Category: Europe
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Environmentalists Challenge GM Potato Trials in Ireland
Following the Irish Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) decision to allow genetically modified (GM) potato trials in County Carlow, a group of environmentalists and organic producers reportedly mounted a legal challenge under the Aarhus Convention which allows environmental legal issues to be pursued under a “non-prohibitively expensive order.” According to a press report, Mr. Justice Gerard…
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EFSA Publishes Guidance on Health Claims
The European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA’s) Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA Panel) has issued two guidance documents establishing “the scientific requirements for the substantiation of health claims related to functions of the nervous system, including psychological functions, and those related to physical performance.” In particular, the new guidance documents address “which claimed…
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EFSA Calls for Additional Scientific Data on Aspartame
As part of an ongoing food additive assessment, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has requested additional scientific data on aspartame “related to 5-benzyl-3,6-dioxo-2-piperazine acetic acid (DKP) and other primary or secondary degradation products from aspartame.” Asked by the European Commission in 2011 to reevaluate the safety of aspartame as a food additive, EFSA’s Scientific…
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EFSA Approves First Cocoa Health Claim
The European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA’s) Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) has apparently concluded that scientific evidence supports an Article 13.5 health claim related to cocoa flavanols and normal blood flow. Submitted by chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebaut AG under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the health claim application cited several human intervention studies…
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EFSA Issues Guidance for Demonstrating Food Additive Safety
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has issued new guidance for the submission of food additive applications that reflects recent scientific advances as well as “the latest risk assessment principles.” Developed by EFSA’s Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources Added to Food, the new data submission guidelines aim to streamline the testing process while…
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EFSA Issues Scientific Statement on Safety of Meat and Milk from Healthy Clones
At the European Commission’s request, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published a scientific statement on the safety of food products derived from animal clones. In its June 2012 statement, EFSA reaffirms its earlier statements and opinions, noting that no new information has changed its conclusion that meat and milk from healthy cattle and pig…
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European Commission to Enforce Rules on Laying Hen Cages
The European Commission has apparently sent “a reasoned opinion” to 10 member states “that have failed to correctly implement Directive 1994/74EC which introduces a ban on the use of un-enriched cages for laying hens,” according to a June 21, 2012, EU press release. The Commission has given Belgium, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus, Hungary, the…
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EU Council Asks Member States to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance
The Council of the European Union has issued a “One Health” perspective document recognizing that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) “is accelerated by excessive and inappropriate use of antimicrobial agents” and asking member states to “develop and implement national strategies or action plans for countering AMR.” According to the perspective document, which underlined the need for “an…