IPA EUROPE PRESS RELEASE Ombudsman’s Conclusion on Probiotics: A Missed Opportunity to Clarify Legal Uncertainty and Meet Consumer Demand.
IPA Europe welcomed the Ombudsman’s acknowledgment in December 2023 that further clarifications from the European Commission were needed. However, following the inquiry into the classification of “probiotics” within the EU, the Ombudsman finally decided to close the case, finding no maladministration by the European Commission. While we respect the Ombudsman’s role, its conclusions fail to address the main critical concerns raised by stakeholders, and the longstanding need for clearer guidance and formal recognition of probiotics as a distinct category of products and ingredients. The EU probiotics market, valued at around €10 billion in 2023, now ranks third globally, behind China and the US, as nearly 50% of online probiotic supplements sold in Europe are sourced from outside the region.