Chr. Hansen’s health claim application related to the probiotic concept Urex™, which contains Chr. Hansen's Probio-Tec® strains named RC-14® and GR-1®, has been reviewed and approved by the Korean Ministry of Food & Drug Safety (MFDS). Urex is a dietary supplement that can help maintain a normal vaginal microbiota. From now on Korean customers may use the health claim “Urex can help vaginal health by increasing lactic acid bacteria” on product packaging and in promotion material.

First and only health claim
“This is exceptionally good news to our customers in the Korean market,” explains Chr. Hansen’s Lasse Nagell, sales and marketing vice president, Human Health & Nutrition. “Urex is the first and only probiotic product with an approved health claim within vaginal health in Korea, an important growth market in Chr. Hansen’s Asia-Pacific region. The Korean MFDS’s health claim approval has already generated many inquiries from prospects and we expect it to drive growth in our sales of Urex in Korea and in Asia-Pacific in general.”

Regulatory tailwind
The approval of the Urex health claim application in Korea is also very encouraging from a regulatory point of view. “Chr. Hansen is spending significant resources on securing official validation of the scientific documentation behind our probiotics these years. The Korean MFDS’s recognition of the documented health benefits of RC-14 and GR-1 works as motivational tailwind in this process. We have been working on the dossier since mid-2013 and it was submitted in January 2014,” comments Senior Manager Charlotte Hemmingsen, Human Health & Nutrition Product Registration & Documentation.

Chr. Hansen at Vitafoods Asia
Attendees at this year’s Vitafoods Asia, which takes place in Hong Kong Sept. 3 and 4, will have the chance to discuss the Urex dietary supplement and other probiotic offerings with Chr. Hansen’s experts at booth 400.