Patrick Coppens, Francesco Planchenstainer

European Food and Feed Law Review, Volume 14 (2019), Issue 2, Page 152 - 159

The use of nanomaterials in foods is one of the emerging areas for innovation that is addressed by EU Food Law. New applications of nanomaterials require pre-market authorisation under the Novel Foods Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 or, in the case of food additives, under Regulation (EC) 1333/2008. Under the labelling provisions (Regulation (EU) 1169/2011) the presence of engineered nanomaterials needs to be indicated in the labelling of foods. These regulations apply in all EU Member States. Recently, however, controversy has arisen, in particular in France, with a seemingly diverging application of these laws and a legal initiative to ban the use of a food additive (E171 – Titanium Dioxide) based on safety concerns because of the presence of nanoparticles. The paper describes the background and provides a legal analysis of the consistency of these developments with EU legal principles. Keywords: EU Commission; France; Labelling; Novel foods; Food additives; Nanomaterials; Precautionary principle; Titanium dioxide.

Patrick Coppens

European Food and Feed Law Review, Volume 8 (2013), Issue 4, Page 238 - 246

Forget about Cloning and Nanotechnology, Let’s Focus on the Scope

Patrick Coppens

European Food and Feed Law Review, Volume 7 (2012), Issue 4, Page 162 - 169

The publication of the so-called list of Article 13 claims as Regulation 432/2012 on 25 may 2012 is considered as one of the milestones in the implementation of the Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation. While most have welcomed the publication of the 222 approved health claims, others have criticized the process and have gone as far as to challenge the scientific principles applied by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) before the European Ombudsman and the Court of Justice of the European Union. This article describes the painful process leading to the adoption and publication of the list. It illustrates the difficulties encountered and decisions taken to address some of the problems during the process. It also addresses the scientific criteria that have been applied and highlights a number of longer-term consequences of this Regulation for the market and research in the field of health claims.

Patrick Coppens

European Food and Feed Law Review, Volume 3 (2008), Issue 2, Page 8

The Use of Botanicals in Food Supplements and Medicinal Products I. European product law, a system of legal frameworks A characteristic of contemporary EU legislation is the creation of legal frameworks, which cover different categories of products. These frameworks include product categories such as medicinal products, medical devices, biocides, cosmetics, foodstuffs, etc. It is no longer the legislator who decides what laws companies need to follow;

Patrick Coppens

European Food and Feed Law Review, Volume 2 (2007), Issue 2, Page 9

The Impact of the Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation on the Food Industry I. Introduction 19 January 2007 will be remembered as an important landmark in the history of European Food Law. It is the date that the Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation (NHCR)1, a harmonisation with far reaching consequences for industry, entered into force after more than three years of intense discussions. Although long awaited it had an inauspicious start when the