Regulatory Model for Botanicals in Food Supplements Proposed

Experts from the European Botanical Forum, Brussels, Germany, recently developed a safety evaluation model they hope will be used in the future regulation of botanicals under food law. The model, which was recently featured in Annals of Metabolism and Nutrition, is based on the current legal framework and the recently published legislation on food claims and fortification. It provides the possibility of classifying botanicals into four categories under food law. The model will incorporate a European-wide negative list of botanicals not to be used in foods because of safety concerns. The list is currently being developed and is based on lists already in practice in Spain, the U.K., Sweden, Finland, Latvia, Belgium, The Netherlands, Italy, Hungary and the Czech Republic.