EFSA public consultation on a harmonised approach for nutrients in regulated products

Some nutrients are regulated under different legal frameworks for use in products such as food additives and pesticides. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has launched a draft approach for public consultation, which aims to integrate and harmonise how EFSA’s scientists assess the intake of these substances. 

Intake of nutrients is generally positive and, in many cases, essential for human and animal health, but an excessive intake of some nutrients could raise health concerns. Risk assessors set Health-Based Guidance Values (HBGVs), a threshold value to indicate how much of a substance, including nutrients, is safe for people and animals. Decision-makers use the HBGVs to help them determine how much of a substance is permitted in regulated products, such as food additives and pesticides.

The draft approach aims to harmonise assessments of the intake of these nutrients, the potentially hazardous properties of excessive intakes, and the overall risks for consumers. The public consultation runs from 15 July to 15 September 2020, and interested parties are invited to submit written comments using the electronic template provided.

Source: EFSA, 15 July 2020