this role, however, food supplements must guarantee the safety, quality and sustainability of the production chain; EHPM has de- veloped a Quality Guide that provides companies with guidance to ensure high product quality standards. EHPM also proposes a post-marketing surveillance system at EU level that would allow companies to collect important product data, including any side effects. Food supplements from companies that follow European legislation and EHPM and National Associations’ guidelines are safe and truthful products that help EU citizens stay healthy and live longer and better. These are the messages that EHPM deliv- ers to the European institutions, consumers and health opera- tors. The aim of the EHPM is through the achievement of its am- bitious objectives is to increase the credibility of the entire sector by offering safe, high quality and sustainable products. Actif’s Mag: Regarding the unprecedented 2020 health crisis, what were its consequences on EHPM activities ? what about the consequences on the food supplement market? approximately 400 submitted by companies and even the use Antonino Santoro: With regard to the repercussions of Covidof the term “probiotic” in the European community has been 19 on the food supplements market, the closure of some activi-prevented by national authorities on the basis of EFSA’s guid- ties, although for limited periods, and the uncertainties for the ance and a Commission guidance document of Reg. 1924/2006 progress of the pandemic have affected the budgets of sever-that considers it a health claim; a few countries are exceptions: al companies and many reduced both R&D activities and newin Italy the term “probiotic” can be used since several years on product launches. The pandemic, however, has made manythe packaging and promotionl material of the of products on consumers aware that strengthening the state of health canthe basis of a guideline of the Ministry of Health. The claim3 make them less fragile and therefore more resistant to the pit- «promote the balance of the intestinal flora» is also allowed falls of Covid or other diseases; some product classes have had for probiotics. Recently the Spanish Agency for Food Safety significant growth in 2020, at least in some countries, compared and Nutrition (AESAN) applied the EU principle of mutual to the previous year. In 2020, the European food supplementsrecognition, and accepted that the term ‘probiotic/s’ can ap- market reached the value of €13.2 billion pears on the label of nationally manufactured food products Very interesting is the survey that HFMA (Health Foodor products from other EU countries. However, the use of the Manufacturer’ Association), made recently in UK ; the survey1 term cannot be accompanied by any health claim, unless spe- confirmed that food supplement products have probably nev-cifically authorised. The term probiotic is also accepted in The er been held in more esteem by consumers, and perhaps moreNetherlands on the basis of a legal interpretation (applies only understood by Government and Regulators, than they are rightfor voluntary information and does not fall under the scope of now. This survey has found that nearly 20 million people in the the claim legislation); other countries (Denmark, some east EU UK are using food supplements on a daily basis, an increase ofcountries) are looking for a temporary solution until a harmo- nearly 20% since the last survey in 2019. Over 70% of adults are nised EU regulation is reached; it seems therefore that there is now taking food supplements, with 1 in 3 claiming to have in-finally a favourable push in many countries for the use of the troduced a supplement as a result of the Covid pandemic. Ofterm probiotic and it is hoped that the Commission will take these new supplements taken, vitamin D was the most popular,this into account soon and review its positions in order to allow followed by vitamin C. the use of the term in the EU and gives companies the oppor- A recent survey conducted by Ipsos internationally showed2 tunity to better communicate the health benefits of products that well-being and health are a primary source of happinesscontaining probiotics. Solution must be political and EHPM is at this stage more than ever. Among European citizens, Italians pushing to put the file on the agenda of the Commission. • in the lead, followed by French and Germans, it is evident that in the last year the propensity to invest in health and wellness products has grown. Comments collected by Philippe Millet Actif’s Mag: In a long term, areyou confident on the future legal status of probiotics claims ? Due to the length of Antonino Santoro’s interview and the richness Were are we in Europe on this topic? of his answers, Actif’s Magazine will publish the answers to the questions on plant and cannabis extracts in its next issue. Antonino Santoro: There is a great interest worldwide in pro- biotics both by research, companies and consumers; in the EU 1https://hfma.co.uk/hotn_lockdown_focus_2021/ the market is growing despite some legislative obstacles and 2Federsalus- IPSOS 2020 3C_17_pubblicazioni_1016_ulterioriallegati_ulterioreallegato_0_alleg.pdf in some countries. 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