• BBC News, Thursday, May 18, 2006 11:32 AM

Food marketers doing business in Europe are facing a raft of new laws regarding health claims in product labeling. The changes are the result of new laws passed this week by the European Parliament that are designed to protect consumers from allegedly false claims made by marketers. The new laws are expected to be phased in over the next three years and include requirements that all foods that make a new health claim must be checked before they go on sale. Labels such as "low fat" will have to meet a standardized definition agreed by the EU, and foods that make a nutrition claim--such as being low in salt --will have to make it clear on the same label if they are also high in fat or sugar. The new laws will apply to all food or drink products made or sold for human consumption within EU nations. They will not cover claims made on cosmetics, medicine or pet food products. The parliament also approved new rules on adding vitamins and other minerals to foods.

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