H

• • Health claim: According to the Regulation EU 1924/2006, ‘health claim’ means any claim that states, suggests or implies that a relationship exists between a food category, a food or one of its constituents and health. There are different types of health claims: the ‘general function’ claims, the claims related to child growth or development, and those related to disease risk factor reduction.
    In order to be used, a health claim must first be authorized. The available EU register of health claims allows to search health claims authorized and non-authorized throughout the European countries. To be authorized, a health claim must undergo a scientific evaluation by EFSA on the basis of a dossier submitted by the applicant.
    To know more client case: (regulation files)

N

• • Nutrition claim: According to the Regulation EU 1924/2006, ‘nutrition claim’ means any claim which states, suggests or implies that a food has particular beneficial nutritional properties due to: (a) the energy (calorific value) it (i) provides, (ii) provides at a reduced or increased rate, or (iii) does not provide; and/or (b) the nutrients or other substances it (i) contains, (ii) contains in reduced or increased proportions, or (iii) does not contain.

• • Notification of food supplements in EU: EU countries may, for monitoring purposes, request notification to their competent authority of the placing on the market in their territory of a food supplement product by forwarding a model of the label used for the product in accordance with Article 10 of the directive 2002/46.
    According to the principle of mutual recognition, Member States shall not, for reasons related to their composition, manufacturing specifications, presentation or labelling, prohibit or restrict trade of food supplements lawfully commercialized in another member State.

• • Notification / Marketing of food supplements in France: To be able to be marketed on the French market, a food supplement must be the subject of a declaration to the competent authority, the Directorate General of Food since February 3, 2023, by means of the dedicated teleservice: Téléicare in accordance with the requirements of decree no. 2006-352 relating to food supplements.
    This declaration meets the requirements of Articles 15 and 16 of Decree No. 2006-352. Depending on the nature of the substances present in the food supplement, two distinct procedures are possible:
    – if the substances used in the composition of food supplements comply with national provisions, then the declaration is made according to the procedure of Article 15, a “declaration certificate” is issued. This certificate does not constitute a guarantee of conformity with the provisions in force, nor a marketing authorization.
    – on the other hand, if substances not meeting national requirements are used and the food supplements in question are legally manufactured or marketed in another Member State or in another State party to the agreement on the European Economic Area, we then resort to the prior authorization procedure according to the principle of mutual recognition according to article 16.
    Any declaration must include a legible copy of the labeling with the text in French, complying with regulatory requirements and including warning notices specific to certain constituents.
    To know more:
    -Recommendations from the DGAL for notifying food supplements in France
    -Transfer of competence from the DGCCRF to the DGAL: what changes for food supplements
    -Our services
    -You can contact us if you wish to declare a food product on the French market

• • Novel Food Novel Food is defined as food that had not been consumed to a significant degree by humans in the EU before 15 May 1997, when the first Regulation on novel food came into force. In addition, Novel Food has to fall under at least one of the categories defined by the European Regulation on Novel Food 2015/2283.
    Novel Food can be newly developed, innovative food, food produced using new technologies and production processes, as well as food which is or has been traditionally eaten outside of the EU. Food used exclusively in food supplements within the Union before 15 May 1997, where it is intended to be used in foods other than food supplements is considered as a Novel Food.
    Pre-market authorisation of Novel Foods is mandatory on the basis of a safety evaluation by the EFSA. The applicant submits a file complying with the requirements of EFSA and containing data on the composition, nutritional, toxicological and allergenic properties as well as production process, proposed uses and use levels.

O

• • « One Health » ou « santé (globale) unique » en français : According to the WHO, One Health is an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably bal-ance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems.
    It recognizes that the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the wider environ-ment (including ecosystems) are closely linked and interdependent.

P

• • Postbiotic: A preparation of inanimate microorganisms and/or their components that confers a health benefit on the host.
    To know more:
    – (Blog article: New guideline for probiotics and prebiotics from WGO and ISAPP )

• • Prebiotic: A selectively fermented ingredient that results in specific changes in the composition and/or activity of the gastrointestinal microbiota, thus conferring benefit(s) upon host health.
    To know more:
    – (Blog article: New guideline for probiotics and prebiotics from WGO and ISAPP )

• • Probiotics: Live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.
    To know more:
    – (Blog article: New guideline for probiotics and prebiotics from WGO and ISAPP )
    – (Blog article: The use of the term probiotic in France, Italy and Spain: a comparative analy-sis)
    – (Blog article: « Probiotic » term can now be used on food supplements in France).