Legislation
Specialist foods require specialist legislation.
The products that we are responsible for have been developed to provide for the unique needs of those who use them. Individuals can become temporarily unwell, or might have ongoing medical problems which require specialist nutritional management or have unique nutritional needs according to their life stage or activity level. Our members invest heavily in scientific research to ensure that the products are based on current sound scientific knowledge.
Our specialist product ranges are regulated by specific legislation which stems from a European Framework Directive on Foods for Particular Nutritional Uses, often called the PARNUTS Directive ((89/398/EEC-OJ L186/21, 30.6.1989) as amended (by 1999/41/EC-OJ L172/38, 8.7.1999). (this has been updated by 2009/39/EC) The European Directive can be accessed here. PARNUTS Directive.
Under this framework directive, legislation on baby milks, complementary foods, slimming foods and medical foods has been agreed and implemented into UK law. Work is ongoing to agree a precise legislative framework for sports foods (for further information see our 'Sports Foods Category'). In 1999, the European Commission agreed that gluten-free foods and low sodium foods, whilst defiined under the PARNUTS Directive need not be the subject of specific additional directives but would be controlled by labelling and claims only. The definitions of gluten free and low - gluten foods were incorporated into a legislation in 2009 and further information is available under our 'Gluten Free Foods Category'.
This detailed legislation contains strict requirements for the composition, labelling and communication of the products covered.
As with all foods, these products must comply with relevant legislation covering hygiene, labelling, including nutritional labelling, additives, contaminants, weights and measures and advertising.
Recent news in legislation
Nutrition labelling is changing - click here to download an overview of the changes. Nutrition labelling is changing. (pdf, 64KB)