Department of Health launches a UK Consultation on the European Commission proposals to revise the legislation for dietetic foods Aug 2011
The UK Department of Health has launched a consultation on the proposals put forward by the European Commission for the revision of the current legislation for Foods for Particular Nutritional Uses (PARNUTs), known as the ‘PARNUTs Framework Directive’.
The PARNUTs Framework Directive provides special legislation for dietetic foods such as infant formula and follow-on formula, complementary foods (weaning foods for infants), medical foods (such as oral nutritional supplements, tube feeds and foods for special medical purposes), gluten free foods, slimming foods and sports foods.
The Commission are proposing to revise the current legislation such that it will limit its remit, covering only infant and follow-on formula, complementary foods and medical foods. This will mean that gluten free foods, slimming foods and sports foods would no longer have special legislation and be classed as ‘general foods’.
The Commission proposal will be discussed by the Council of Ministers which is made up of ministers of Member States of the European Union. The Department of Health will be representing the UK at the negotiations on the legislation at the Council. In order to inform the UK position, the Department of Health consultation seeks to canvas UK opinions and views and to assess the impact of the revision of the legislation in the UK.
BSNA welcome the opportunity to provide comment to the UK authorities on the changes that are being proposed. We encourage other interested parties to review the proposals and assess the impact they may have on those who rely on these specialist products. The DH Consultation closes on 30 September 2011.
BSNA have previously commented on the Commission Proposals: ((Commission proposals for the dietetic food sector are a threat to vulnerable consumers)
The UK Department of Health Consultation and impact assessment can be accessed here.
Additionally, detailed information on the European Commission proposal and impact assessment can be viewed
here.