X1CHAPTER IVHEALTH CLAIMS
Article 16 Opinion of the F1expert committee
1
In giving its opinion, the F2expert committee shall respect a time limit of five months from the date of receipt of a valid application. Whenever the F2expert committee seeks supplementary information from the applicant as provided for in paragraph 2, such time limit shall be extended by up to two months following the date of receipt of the requested information submitted by the applicant.
2
F3The expert committee or the competent authority through the expert committee may, where appropriate, request the applicant to supplement the particulars accompanying the application within a specified time limit.
3
In order to prepare its opinion, the F4expert committee shall verify:
a
that the health claim is substantiated by scientific evidence;
b
that the wording of the health claim complies with the criteria laid down in this Regulation.
4
In the event of an opinion in favour of authorising the health claim, the opinion shall include the following particulars:
a
the name and address of the applicant;
b
the nutrient or other substance, or the food or the category of food, in respect of which a claim is to be made and its particular characteristics;
c
a proposal for the wording of the health claim, including, as the case may be, the specific conditions of use;
d
where applicable, conditions or restrictions of use of the food and/or an additional statement or warning that should accompany the health claim on the label and in advertising.
5
F76
The expert committee shall make its opinion public. The applicant or members of the public may make comments to the competent authority which received the application within 30 days from publication of the opinion of the expert committee.
Substituted by Corrigendum to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods (Official Journal of the European Union L 404 of 30 December 2006).