Statement on the conditions of use for health claims related to meal replacements for weight control

Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA Panel) was asked to provide a scientific opinion on the conditions of use for health claims related to meal replacements for weight control, and in particular to advise on whether a change in the conditions of use for claims on meal replacements for weight control regarding their micronutrient composition (i.e. referring to 30% of the Nutrient Reference Values (NRVs) laid down in Part A of Annex XIII of Regulation (EU) 1169/2011 instead of the 30% of NRVs laid down in Annex I of Directive 96/8/EC) would affect the conclusions reached by the NDA Panel on its Scientific Opinion with respect to the scientific substantiation of health claims related to meal replacement for weight control (as defined in Directive 96/8/EC on energy restricted diets for weight loss) and reduction in body weight (ID 1417) and maintenance of body weight after weight loss (ID1418) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. Taking into account that the mechanisms by which meal replacements could exert the claimed effects were mostly related to their controlled energy content and the relatively high protein/low fat content, the Panel concludes that the differences in the micronutrient composition of meal replacements which would derive from changing the conditions of use from Directive 96/8/EC to Regulation (EU) 1169/2011 do not affect the scientific substantiation of health claims related to meal replacements for weight control and reduction in body weight (ID 1417), and maintenance of body weight after weight loss (ID 1418) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, as assessed by the Panel in 2010.