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Trade and Industry Department The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Brand Hong Kong - Asia world city
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Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref : EIC 230/4

10 July 2007

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 265/2007

European Union (EU)* : Labelling, Advertising or Presenting Foods Intended for Use in Energy-restricted Diets for Weight Reduction

The European Commission (the Commission) has adopted a Directive to amend Directive 96/8/EC relating to foods intended for use in energy-restricted diets for weight reduction. Details are set out in Commission Directive 2007/29/EC (the Directive), which can be accessed through the following link:  http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2007/l_139/l_13920070531en00220023.pdf.

DETAILS

  1. 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. Previously, manufacturers were not permitted to make reference to a reduction in the sense of hunger or an increase in the sense of satiety on the labels or advertising of these products. The Directive now permits such claims, on the condition that they comply with Regulation (EC) No. 1924/2006 concerning nutrition and health claims made on foods (Commercial Information Circular No. 39/2007 refers). However, it should be noted that labelling, advertising and presentation of the products should not make any reference to the rate or amount of weight loss which may result from their use. 

ENQUIRIES

  1. For enquiries concerning the contents of this circular, please contact the undersigned at telephone number 2398 5500.

Yours faithfully,




(K H NG)

for Director-General of Trade and Industry

* The EU includes Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.