EFSA approves two nutrients for European use
The European Commission has presented two nutrient proposals to the 25 European Union member states for addition to the Food Supplements Directive's (FSD) 'positive list' of vitamins and minerals, following favourable opinions from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). These are the first nutrients to gain EFSA approval under the FSD nutrient dossier process. EFSA has hundreds of similar dossiers to process by the end of 2009.

The two nutrients forwarded by EFSA were boron (and its sources, boric acid and sodium borate), and calcium L-methyl folate and ferrous bis-glycinate.

Although the addition of the indicated sources of calcium and iron were approved, the EC declined to permit the addition of boron and its sources to the positive list following objections from some member states.

Entering the Japanese marketplace
A new four-part guide is available for companies looking to export their products to the Japanese marketplace: Entry to the Japanese Nutrition Market. Edited by industry expert Loren Israelsen, parts 1 and 2, available now, explain the Japanese regulatory system in depth, and regulations related to marketing, product labelling and health claims. The next two parts, available in May and August, respectively, will highlight successful case studies of international companies entering the Japanese nutrition market, and offer a guide to finding local partners and/or customers in Japan.For more information: