10 % Frühlingsrabatt · Code: MAIZEHN
As early as 2006, the European Union issued Regulation (EC) No. 1924/2006 (Health Claims) on nutrition and health claims for food. In December 2012, another Health Claim regulation came into force, building on this. We explain the changes here.
As early as 2006, the European Union regulated advertising claims related to food for the purpose of health protection with this regulation. Scientific procedures were stipulated, which had to be used to substantiate health and nutrition claims about food.
This meant that arbitrary procedures could no longer be used to support claims, but only those approved by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The final decision-making power remained with the European Commission.
Regarding food, claims that are permissible under the regulation were already established. This laid the groundwork for a general ban on advertising claims for food with certain exceptions – legally: a ban with a reservation of permission. Since many other requirements had to be considered, this brief overview serves only as a short “historical” context.
A well-known example of a health claim would be the fiber content of a food product and its effect on digestive health.
The newly introduced regulation was tested for practical applicability over the years, and the authorities quickly identified a need for improvements. This laid the foundation for the new regulation mentioned here.
With the new regulation – which differed from the previous one that served more as "guidelines" – a list of specific statements (the Health Claims) was added. From then on, only these were allowed, and everything else was strictly prohibited. Whereas before, the ban with a reservation of permission was based on defined guidelines, it was now the same rule but with a clearly defined list of health and disease-related claims. Everything else is now forbidden.
The list is not fixed; it is updated over time by the EU, with comments from the member countries, and there is even a list of so-called "pending Health Claims" that are currently under review.
The Health Claim regulation has both advantages and disadvantages for you and us. One could quickly perceive the regulation as "restrictive," but that would be an oversimplification. Especially in Germany, where competition law is primarily regulated through cease-and-desist orders between competitors, the 2006 regulation was not an ideal solution. Some companies interpreted the regulation rather generously, leading to frequent disputes. The new regulation has certainly brought order to this situation. It has created a calmer market among competitors.
You, as a customer, are now better protected against premature and exaggerated health and disease-related claims. You can trust what is now posted online more than before.
The "downside," however, is the very strict interpretation of Health Claims. Even commonly known "effects" of foods, such as the benefits of prunes, are now prohibited, which has caused irritation among the public. People have spoken of "paternalism." There were also some challenges in the early years regarding the correct interpretation of the claims, but this has largely been resolved.
In short: Since the enforcement of Regulation No. 432/2012 on December 14, 2012, only the health claims listed in this regulation may be used for products, substances, or ingredients. Health claims not included in this list have been prohibited since then. For these reasons, you will mainly find information about the quality of the raw materials we use in our product descriptions.
As most claims are now completely prohibited for us, unfortunately, satisfying your thirst for information is entirely up to you. Since we are usually not allowed to assist you in this regard, we generally refer you to the wealth of information available online. There are many good resources online that can help you. Medical databases, such as PubMed, and other public resources provide good guidance on what you can expect from specific substances and ingredients. For any other questions, as always, we are happy to assist you through the usual contact channels and are here for you.
