Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

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

Ref : EIC 230/2/12

8 June 2009

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 293/2009

European Union (EU)* : Foodstuffs intended for particular Nutritional Uses

The European Parliament and the Council of the EU has adopted a Directive concerning foodstuffs intended for particular nutritional uses. Details are set out in Directive 2009/39/EC (the Directive), which can be accessed through the following link:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2009:124:0021:0029:EN:PDF

DETAILS

1.  
2. Under the Directive, foodstuffs for particular nutritional use shall fulfil the particular nutritional requirements:
   • -for certain categories of persons whose digestive processes or metabolism are disturbed;
   • -for certain categories of persons who are in a special physiological condition and who are therefore able to obtain special benefit from controlled consumption of certain substances in foodstuffs; or
   • -for infants or young children in good health.
3. The Directive has specified the provisions applicable for foodstuffs intended for the above nutritional uses, such as requirements on packaging, labelling, presentation, advertising, etc. Other specific provisions for certain foodstuffs under this category may also be laid down by means of specific Directives.

ENQUIRIES

4. For enquiries concerning the content of this circular, please contact the undersigned at telephone number 2398 5556.

Yours faithfully,

(Miss Peggy LEUNG)

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.