Following an application from Specialised Nutrition Europe (formerly IDACE), submitted for authorisation of a health claim pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 via the Competent Authority of France, the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on the scientific substantiation of a health claim related to biotin and contribution to normal energy-yielding metabolism.
The scope of the application was proposed to fall under a health claim referring to children’s development and health.
The general approach of the NDA Panel for the evaluation of health claims applications is outlined in the EFSA general guidance for stakeholders on the evaluation of Article 13.1, 13.5 and 14 health claims.
The food constituent that is the subject of the health claim is biotin, which is an essential nutrient and can be measured in foods by established methods. The Panel considers that biotin is sufficiently characterised.
The claimed effect proposed by the applicant is ‘plays an important role in the energy metabolism of food’. The target population proposed by the applicant is infants and young children from birth to three years of age. The Panel considers that contribution to normal energy-yielding metabolism is a beneficial physiological effect.
