NVWA 2018: focus on misleading claims and publishing sanctions

The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (Nederlandse Voedsel- en Warenautoriteit, NVWA) has just recently published its annual plan, providing an  interesting look behind the scenes. The NVWA lists as its core values: reliability, independence, transparency, and professionalism. Stemming from these is its clarification about where its priorities lie. The NVWA is also working on improving its efficiency, including by computerising processes. It also wants to publish the results of its analyses and warnings more frequently. In the area of animal feed, the focus is on misleading medical claims on the labels and the correctness of claimed percentages. The NVWA also wants to actively verify the scientific substantiation for claims. Currently in the spotlight are online ads. Regarding food and beverages intended for human consumption, the priority for 2018 (and 2019) will also be on the labelling and claims. Dietary supplements continue to be the subject of NVWA scrutiny, with specialised inspectors being assigned to those cases. The NVWA’s annual plan indicates that it is considering publishing the results of these inspections. The correct use of dietary and health claims remains a top priority. How those plans will play out remains to be seen, but when it comes to safety, forewarned is forearmed.

Ebba Hoogenraad