The main objective of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 of 20 December, on nutrition and health claims made on food, is to guarantee consumer protection, and ensure that they select the healthiest option from among the different foods on the market.

"CLAIM" means any message or representation which is not mandatory under Community or national legislation, including pictorial, graphic or symbolic representation in any form, which states, suggests or implies that a food has particular characteristics. There are two types of claim:

“Nutrition claim” is any claim which states, suggests or implies that a food has particular beneficial nutritional properties due to the energy input (it provides or does not provide, or provides at a reduced or increased rate), and/or the nutrients or other substances (it contains or does not contain, or contains in reduced or increased proportions).

"Health Claim" means any claim that states, suggests or implies that a relationship exists between a food category, a food or one of its constituents and health. These may be of different types:

• Health claims under the scope of article 13.1 of the Regulation, relating to:
  • the role of a nutrient or other substance in growth, development and the functions of the body, or
  • physiological and behavioural functions, or
  • slimming, weight-control or a reduction in the sense of hunger, or an increase in the sense of satiety or the reduction of the available energy from the diet.
• Health claims under the scope of article 14 of the Regulation, relating to:
  • the reduction of disease risk
  • the growth and health of children

It applies to all nutrition and health claims of a commercial nature, made in the labelling, presentation and advertising of the food, and in no case are claims to therapeutic, preventive or curative properties in the food permitted.

For further information about the types of claims, the procedures for authorisation and other related aspects, please go to the following link on our web page.

Please see the Community Record of claims