The yr 2024 was a pivotal second for the European Union’s political panorama. It marked the conclusion of the 2019-2024 mandate of the European Fee and Parliament, ushering in a brand new period with the election of a recent European Parliament in Might and the reconstitution of the European Fee, operational as of December 2nd.
A strategic imaginative and prescient for the way forward for meals dietary supplements within the EU
Within the evolving political panorama of 2024, the European Federation of Associations of Well being Product Producers (EHPM) seized the second to reaffirm its dedication to the meals dietary supplements sector by publishing its formidable Manifesto: Collectively for Wholesome Residents and a Affluent Financial system within the EU. Since 1975, EHPM has been the voice of the sector, and with this Manifesto, it calls on the EU to acknowledge the pivotal position of meals dietary supplements in supporting the well being and well-being of European residents whereas fostering the expansion of a thriving business.
The Manifesto outlines six key coverage priorities geared toward shaping a supportive regulatory framework within the new EU mandate:
- Truthful Most Ranges: Advocating for a good, sensible, and scientifically sound mannequin to set most ranges for nutritional vitamins and minerals, alongside a name for the European Fee to conduct a sturdy influence evaluation of its proposals.
- Proportionate Danger Administration: Making certain balanced decision-making below Article 8 of Regulation 1925/2006.
- Botanical Well being Claims: Proposing a mannequin that harmonizes custom of use with progressive science, enabling a balanced and graded strategy for assessing botanical well being claims at present “on maintain.”
- Authorized Certainty for Novel Meals: Clarifying the factors for what constitutes a novel meals.
- Probiotic Harmonization: Supporting the harmonized use of the time period “probiotic” as a class throughout the EU.
The Manifesto displays the sector’s imaginative and prescient for empowering shoppers with high-quality, scientifically backed merchandise whereas making certain the business operates inside a predictable and supportive regulatory framework.
EHPM proudly introduced its Manifesto at its members’ assembly in June, within the presence of Pascal Arimont (BE/EPP), Member of the European Parliament and the ENVI Committee. His participation underscored the significance of continued collaboration between policymakers and business stakeholders to safe a more healthy, extra affluent future for Europe.
Because the EU enters this new political chapter, EHPM’s Manifesto units a transparent agenda for making meals dietary supplements indispensable allies in selling public well being and driving financial development throughout the Union.
EHPM’s dedication to key EU dossiers in 2024
Because the voice of the meals dietary supplements sector, the EHPM has remained steadfastly engaged in addressing essential EU regulatory and coverage points impacting the business. In 2024, EHPM targeted its efforts on a number of key dossiers:
Most ranges for nutritional vitamins and minerals
EHPM continued to advocate for a good, sensible, and scientifically sound strategy to setting most ranges for nutritional vitamins and minerals, a subject of ongoing significance for the sector.
Security of botanical substances
The security of botanical substances got here below scrutiny within the Heads of Companies Report, revealed final spring. EHPM actively participated in discussions to make sure that business views are integrated into any future regulatory actions.
Botanical claims
The long-standing challenge of botanical well being claims gained renewed urgency following two vital stories in 2024:
- The European Parliament’s own-initiative report, issued in March, which emphasised the necessity for the European Fee to resolve the “claims on maintain” challenge.
- The European Courtroom of Auditors’ report, which echoed this name and highlighted the significance of regulatory readability for the sector setting a deadline for 2027.
EHPM has strongly urged the Fee to undertake a sensible framework that balances the custom of use with progressive scientific approaches.
Article 8 of regulation 1925/2006
A significant milestone in 2024 was the Basic Courtroom of the European Union judgment (ECJ T-274/21) in November, which annulled Regulation EU 2021/468 on Aloe Vera and different vegetation. The Courtroom dominated that the European Fee’s implementation of the Harmonized Different Dispute (HAD) regulation violated Article 8 of Regulation 1925/2006.
This landmark resolution has set a precedent for proportionate danger administration in regulatory choices. The judgment will turn out to be enforceable except appealed by the European Fee earlier than the January 14, 2025 deadline. EHPM performed a pivotal position on this case, taking part as an occasion alongside its members Synadiet (FR) and be-sup (BE).
Closing 2024 and looking out forward: EHPM’s strategic imaginative and prescient for 2025
As a big yr for the meals dietary supplements sector attracts to an in depth, EHPM marked the event with a particular breakfast briefing on the European Parliament in Strasbourg final November.
Organized in cooperation with MEP Pascal Arimont, the occasion introduced collectively over eight MEPs, together with newly elected representatives, to introduce them to the sector, spotlight our key issues and challenges, and lay the muse for significant collaboration in 2025.
The Street Forward: Key Developments in 2025
The upcoming yr guarantees to be pivotal for the meals dietary supplements sector, with a number of essential regulatory developments on the horizon:
- Most Permitted Ranges (MPLs): The European Fee’s proposal for setting MPLs is predicted to advance, with business session seemingly in March 2025.
- Article 8 Dossiers: Choices on important substances, equivalent to Alpha Lipoic Acid and Monacolin Ok, are anticipated.
- Substances of Concern: The European Fee’s strategy to the 12 substances recognized within the Heads of Companies (HOA) report will turn out to be clearer.
- Botanical Claims: With rising stress from EU establishments, progress on resolving the longstanding “claims on maintain” challenge can be anticipated.
EHPM’s dedication to the sector
EHPM is absolutely ready to handle these challenges and alternatives with a sturdy public affairs technique constructed on a collection of sound, well-researched proposals:
These sources function highly effective instruments to interact with policymakers and stakeholders, making certain the business’s voice is heard.
A Milestone Yr: EHPM’s fiftieth Anniversary
In 2025, EHPM will have a good time its fiftieth anniversary, a testomony to 5 a long time of dedication to the meals dietary supplements sector. This milestone will likely be commemorated with a high-level occasion, bringing collectively stakeholders, policymakers, and business leaders to mirror on our achievements and set a imaginative and prescient for the longer term.
Trying forward
By way of its energetic engagement on the above talked about dossiers, EHPM reaffirms its dedication to safeguarding the pursuits of the meals dietary supplements business whereas advocating for clear, balanced, and evidence-based regulatory frameworks. These efforts are important not just for the sector’s development but in addition for making certain that buyers throughout the EU proceed to learn from protected, high-quality meals dietary supplements.
About EHPM
EHPM was created in 1975 and represents and helps meals complement producers, distributors and suppliers, nearly all of that are Small and Medium Dimension Enterprises (SMEs), in 17 European Nations. Because the EU commerce affiliation for the meals complement sector, EHPM proactively and constructively engages with the EU Establishments to contribute to the event of a good European regulatory framework for the sector. By way of our member associations and firms, EHPM goals to offer shoppers with protected, science-based, high-quality merchandise in addition to correct and useful details about their dietary worth and use.
