According to the FDA, some “basic” statements about health benefits can be made without having to seek its approval.
PUBLISHED: 3 Jul 2024 at 18: 44
The Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) has clarified the requirements for producers of so-called functional food products to include basic health claims on their packaging without having to obtain the regulator’s approval.
According to Lertchai Lertvut, the lieutenant secretary-general of the FDA, the goal is to boost the prospects for the industry, which is estimated to be worth 100 billion baht annually.
Consumers are aided by information that explains health and health benefits of products. The FDA only allows simple health statements that are proven, appropriate and reliable, stressed Mr Lertchai.
He said the information on a product package must conform to at least one of the three standards set forth in the new legislation.
The first refers to the works of 28 nutrition. A total of 135 claims in this regard are permitted by the FDA. Example include” Protein is essential for body growth and repairing deteriorated components”, “vitamin C functions as an antioxidant”, and “vitamin B1 helps the body’s cells change carbs into power”.
Eight statements are permitted for each of the six foods components when making the following health claim. For instance:” Beta- glucan from wheat and barley helps lower cholesterol absorption” and” creatine improves fat metabolism”.
Lastly, the FDA allows four statements for two substances that relate to a reduced risk of disease. These include the subsequent:” A diet low in saturated fat may help decrease blood cholesterol levels; high blood pressure is a significant risk factor for stroke and heart disease,” and low in saturated fat may help lower blood cholesterol levels. A risk factor for coronary heart disease is high blood cholesterol.
The new legislation took impact on Tuesday.
More health claims may be approved in the future, according to Mr. Lertchai, noting that the controller has been working closely with industry partners on various health state assessments to encourage the practical food sector.
The value of the efficient food items company this year will reach about 100 billion rmb, up 8 % from last year, according to the Office of the National Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Policy Council. Exports of practical food products are anticipated to be for 128 billion baht, up 9 %.
According to Mr. Lertchai,” Entrepreneurs may place the approved messages on the labels of their products without getting a second opinion from the FDA.”
However, they will need to send reports to ensure those benefits, which will be approved on a case-by-case base if they want to create additional health claims that are not stipulated in the rules.