Food fortification and food supplements

The addition of vitamins, minerals and other substances to foods is regulated by the Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council. Fortifying or adding nutrients to foods is voluntary in the EU. The Regulation only lays down detailed requirements concerning vitamins and minerals and their compounds. The Regulation also sets out a procedure for restricting or prohibiting the use of potentially dangerous substances in foods. According to the Regulation, the addition of certain vitamins or minerals to foods can be made mandatory for public health reasons.

The National Nutrition Council of Finland recommends fortifying liquid milk products and fat spreads with vitamin D3. The recommended levels are 1 µg / 100 ml and 20 µg / 100g respectively. Food business operators generally follow the recommendation, which is important for ensuring sufficient vitamin D intake in Finland. For table salt used in cooking and food industry a level of 25 µg/g iodine is recommended.

When placing a fortified food on the market, operators must submit a notification to the Finnish Food Authority. Further information and instructions are available on Finnish Food Authority’s website:

https://www.ruokavirasto.fi/en/companies/food-sector/production/common-requirements-for-composition/addition-of-nutrients-to-food/

Food supplements

Food supplements are regulated by Directive 46/2002/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council. The Directive only lays down detailed requirements concerning vitamins and minerals and their compounds. No detailed requirements have been set for other substances characteristic of food supplements. Commission Regulation (EC) No 1170/2009 has replaced Annexes I and II to the Directive, establishing lists of vitamins and minerals and their forms that may be used in food supplements.

In Finland, the Directive 2002/46/EC has been implemented with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Decree 78/2010. The national decree establishes a notification procedure, requiring commercial operators to submit a notification to the Finnish Food Authority before placing a food supplement on the market. Further implementation guidelines are available on the Finnish Food Authority website and in Finnish Food Authority’s Food Supplement Guide.

https://www.ruokavirasto.fi/en/about-us/services/guides--instructions--and-forms/companies/food-sector/food-sector---guides/

For further information on the addition of nutrients and food supplements, please visit the Commission’s website:

https://food.ec.europa.eu/safety/labelling-and-nutrition/addition-vitamins-and-minerals_en

https://food.ec.europa.eu/safety/labelling-and-nutrition/food-supplements_en

Finland’s positions on drafting EU legislation concerning food fortification and food supplements are prepared in an expert group of the sub-committee responsible for food legislation and control operating under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The expert group consists of different authorities and organisations in the sector.