Event “Healthier citizens and a stronger economy in the EU”
On 18th February, Rosanna Pecere, Executive Director of IPA Europe, attended the event “Healthier citizens and a stronger economy in the EU”, organised by EHPM in the European Parliament, hosted by Belgian MEP Pascal Arimont and Italian MEP Simona Bonafè. After the keynote speech of the MEP Pascal Arimont (EPP; Belgium), Ms Livia Menichetti, EHPM’s Director General, presented the Manifesto of the association.. The event presented two panels: the first on “Health promotion and disease prevention: the role of food supplements” and the second one on “Food supplements and the new EU political term: opportunities and challenges”. EHPM claims a graded approach to health claims, and the acknowledgement of the term probiotics. The discussion was about the role of supplements in the health care for ageing population, the health benefits of supplements and the potential save of cost.
Ms Azzopardi, officer of the European Commission, also stressed the need to promote innovation and protect jobs as well as “create certainty for consumers” when presented with these products. The REFIT report, expected by end of March 2020, will provide the preferred option of the EC on how to deal with the botanical claims.
Mr Wolfgang, representative of EFSA, stressed that the agency has limited power, which is mainly on safety and scientific assessment, while the regulatory aspects are in the hands of MSs.
The Manifesto is available on the website: https://www.ehpm.org/images/documents/EHPM_Manifesto%2020-24.pdf