COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION
of 24 January 2013
adopting guidelines for the implementation of specific conditions for health claims laid down in Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2013/63/EU)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods (1) and in particular Article 10(4) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
Article 10(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 provides for a possibility to adopt guidelines for the implementation of that Article on specific conditions for health claims.
(2)
Both national control authorities and food business operators have raised questions about the implementation of paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. In order to ensure consistency in the application of those provisions and to facilitate the work of the control authorities and ensure greater clarity and certainty for economic operators, it is appropriate to issue guidelines.
(3)
The guidelines set out in the Annex to this Decision should be taken into account by the national control authorities and food business operators. Interested parties, in particular food business operators and consumer groups, have been consulted on 12 October 2012.
(4)
The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (2).
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The guidelines for the implementation of Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 are set out in the Annex to this Decision.
Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Done at Brussels, 24 January 2013.