1. I am planning to start the import of energy drinks and other fortified foods. Who can I contact for advice?
– Finnish Food Authority's web site provides plenty of information about e.g. notifications of food establishments, notification procedure for fortified food, and food labelling.
The food control authorities (health inspector) in each municipality advise food sector operators and consumers.
Companies providing consulting services related to food supplement notifications and labelling can be contacted, if necessary.
Addition of nutrients to food/notification on bringing to market fortified foods
2. Is an authorisation required for fortification of foods?
– No specific authorisation is required, but a notification shall be submitted to Finnish Food Authority of the fortification of food with vitamins and/or minerals. Finnish Food Authority has opened an electronic online service. Notifications of placing of foods fortified with vitamins and minerals on the market, change in composition and removal from the market can be submitted via the online service. Logging into the electronic service is done with Suomi.fi e-identification and Suomi.fi e-authorizations.
Addition of nutrients to food/notification on bringing to market fortified foods
3. Which vitamins and minerals may be added in food?
– The permitted vitamins and minerals are listed in Annex I of the Fortification Regulation (1925/2006/EC) and the permitted forms of them in Annex II.
Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 of the European parliament and of the council
Addition of nutrients to food/vitamins and minerals allowed infortified foods and their sources
4. Herbal extracts, amino acids and other substances have been added in food in addition to vitamins. How do I know if they are permitted?
– There is no list of prohibited or approved substances, except for vitamins and minerals and their sources (Fortification Regulation 1925/2006/EC Annex I and II). The main rule is that the product must be safe for use as food, its ingredients shall have a history of use and the ingredients must not make the product a medicinal product. The operator is responsible for verifying that the product meets these requirements.
Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 of the European parliament and of the council
5. Is there a maximum limit for vitamins or minerals added in food? Or for other substances, such as caffeine or amino acids?
– There are no national regulations on maximum amounts. The operator is responsible for the product being safe to consumers.
The European Commission is defining maximum limits for vitamins and minerals. The topic can be followed on the web site of the Commission.
6. Must Finnish Food Authority be notified of fortification of food with omega-3 amino acid? What about fortification with caffeine, taurine, ginseng or other herbs?
– No, because the notification obligation only applies to vitamins and minerals.
7. Must energy drinks and other foods fortified with caffeine be provided with some warning notice?
– If a beverage contains caffeine, from whatever source, in a proportion in excess of 150 mg/l, the labelling must show the following message in connection with the name of the product: "High caffeine content". The labelling shall also bear the warning: "Not recommended to children, pregnant women or people sensitive to caffeine", and indicate the maximum dose for daily consumption in precise terms, such as "Maximum two cans per day".
These warnings are not required on coffee and tea, however.
The labelling of sweets, chocolate bars and similar products containing caffeine shall bear the warning: "Not recommended to children, pregnant women or people sensitive to caffeine", and indicate the maximum dose for daily consumption in precise terms, such as "Maximum one carton per day"
Warning and instructions for use of foods containing caffeine
8. Does the labelling of industrially manufactured food have to indicate if iodised salt is used in the product?
– Yes, the indication is required.
9. Can a product be marketed although Finnish Food Authority has not yet acknowledged receipt of food fortification notification?
– Yes. The Finnish Food Authority considers the notification obligation fulfilled when the notification complete with all the required information and enclosures is received by the Authority.
Finnish Food Authority does not assess the safety, composition or labelling of the product when it receives the notification. In other words, the receipt of the notification does not mean that Finnish Food Authority has authorised the notified fortified food as compliant with food regulations.
Finnish Food Authority enters the product in the register, and sends an acknowledgement letter of the receipt of the notification to the operator. The notification and the enclosures to it are sent to the local food control authorities, and if necessary, to the Customs for information and control.
10. Is Finnish Food Authority contemplating an age limit for purchasing of energy drinks?
– The setting of a purchasing age limit is not within Finnish Food Authority's competence. Plenty of information about energy drinks is provided on Finnish Food Authority's web site.