Food used for weight reduction

This Directive lays down compositional and labelling requirements for foods for particular nutritional uses intended for use in energy restricted diets for weight reduction.

ACT

Commission Directive 96/8/EC of 26 February 1996 on foods intended for use in energy-restricted diets for weight reduction.

SUMMARY

This Directive is a 'specific Directive' within the meaning of Article 4 of Directive 89/398/EEC and lays down compositional and labelling requirements for foods for particular nutritional uses which are intended for use in energy-restricted diets for weight reduction and are presented as such.

Foods for use in energy-restricted diets for weight reduction are specially formulated foods which, when used as instructed by the manufacturer, replace the whole or part of the total daily diet. They are divided in two categories:

• products presented as a replacement for the whole of the daily diet;
• products presented as a replacement for one or more meals of the daily diet.

Member States shall ensure that the products listed below may be marketed within the Community only if they conform to the rules laid down in this Directive.

Foods covered by this Directive shall comply with the compositional criteria specified in Annex 1.

The name under which the product is sold shall be:

• for products presented as a replacement for the whole of the daily diet: 'Total diet replacement for weight control';
• for products presented as a replacement for one or more meals of the daily diet: 'Meal replacement for weight control'.

The labelling of the products concerned shall bear, in addition to those provided for in Article 3 of Council Directive 79/112/EEC, the following mandatory particulars:

• the available energy value expressed in kJ and kcal, and the content of proteins, carbohydrates and fat, expressed in numerical form, per specified quantity of the product ready for use as proposed for consumption;
• the average quantity of each mineral and each vitamin for which mandatory requirements are stipulated in paragraph 5 of Annex 1, expressed in numerical form, per specified quantity of the product ready for use as proposed for consumption. In addition, for products presented as a replacement for one or more meals of the daily diet, information on vitamins and minerals listed in the Table of point 5 of Annex I shall also be expressed as a percentage of the values as defined in the Annex to Council Directive 90/496/EEC (4);
• instructions for appropriate preparation, where necessary, and a statement as to the importance of following those instructions;
• if a product, when used as instructed by the manufacturer, provides a daily intake of polyols in excess of 20 g per day, there shall be a statement to the effect that the food may have a laxative effect;
• a statement on the importance of maintaining an adequate daily fluid intake;
• for products presented as a replacement for the whole of the daily diet:- a statement that the product provides adequate amounts of all essential nutrients for the day;- a statement that the product should not be used for more than three weeks without medical advice;
• for products presented as a replacement for one or more meals of the daily diet: a statement to the effect that the products are useful for the intended use only as part of an energy-restricted diet and that other foodstuffs should be a necessary part of such diet.

The labelling, advertising and presentation of the products concerned shall not make any reference to the rate or amount of weight loss which may result from their use.

See also

For further information, visit the website of DG Health and Consumer Protection.

Last updated: 09.08.2007