Across the Nutra-verse: CBD rules in the US, Thailand’s new health claims framework, and more
USA
AHPA supports Wyden's call for interim final rule on CBD
As the spotlight remains on hemp and CBD, stakeholders are seeking ways to clarify the legal status of the ingredient in the US. One such option could be for the FDA to pass an interim final rule on CBD.
The American Herbal Products Association has proposed the idea before, and the notion was also put forward by a letter sent last week to FDA by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-OR.
Michael McGuffin, AHPA president, told NutraIngredients-USA that Sen. Wyden was pushing the agency to move promptly on CBD. But he said that priority remains safety, and a push to resolve the issue cannot compromise this.
“In no way is he proposing the agency abandon its mission to protect the public health. He’s saying the agency has his support in making decisions that ensure a reasonable expectation of safety for hemp and CBD products in the marketplace,” he said.
“That’s something we also value. FDA’s priority is exactly the same as AHPA’s priority on this.”
McGuffin said issuing an interim final rule on how CBDs can be legally marketed would forestall many of the issues currently plaguing the CBD category, even if that interim form might have to be substantially amended before it became final.
“It enables you to establish a regulatory framework much more quickly than a formal rule making. By imposing an interim final rule FDA could issue something yet this year. It doesn’t mean they would not take more information and they could modify that interim rule,” McGuffin said.
Asia
Thailand unveils new health claims framework
According to a scoop by NutraIngredients-Asia, Thailand is expanding the number of nutrient function claims as it introduces a new framework to align with changes at the CODEX level.
Dr Anadi Nitithamyong, VP for academic affairs of Food Science and Technology Association of Thailand (FoSTAT) and a member of the drafting committee, told our Asia edition that the new guidelines for nutrient function claims were finalized and awaiting publication.
The guidelines will see an expansion in the number of nutrient function claims from 29 to two to three times more.
“For example, in the past, you can only use one or two functional health claims related to calcium. Now, there is maybe three or four claims available for use,” said Dr Nitithamyong.
For more on this story, please click HERE.
Europe
UK’s Advertising Standards Authority slams Seven Seas for skin supplement claims
Reiterating that only health claims listed as authorized on the EU Register of nutrition and health claims (the EU Register) can be made, the UK’s ASA has cited P&G affiliate Seven Seas for violating marketing communication codes for misleading and unauthorized claims in a magazine ad for its Perfect 7 Renewal Advanced skin health supplements.
The ad claims the product uses a “unique formulation containing ceramosides. A natural source of ceramides, for more hydrated looking skin, from within”.
The advertisement also features text positioned over a women’s cheek stating: “wrinkles appearance reduction, skin firmness, skin moisture, skin smoothness. Skin elasticity, skin radiance and skin softness”.
Upholding the final decision, ASA instructed Seven Seas not to use the ad in its current form instructing the firm to “ensure that their future advertising did not include specific health claims that were not authorised on the EU Register and to ensure that they held robust evidence to substantiate cosmetic claims”.
In response, Seven Seas said both of these were cosmetic claims and provided a copy of a randomized clinical trial substantiating the claims “skin moisture” and “for more hydrated skin, from within”.
For more on this story from NutraIngredients Europe, please click HERE.
