Its role will be to replace the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens.
The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) has announced the move following a two-week consultation in December to ensure continuity of nutrition policy.
It is the most substantial change in the Nutrition (Amendment etc) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, which in most other regards will continue the existing regulatory framework.
The main areas it covers include:
• Nutrition and health claims made on foods.
• The addition of vitamins, minerals and certain other substances added to foods.
• The composition and labeling of food supplements.
• The composition and labeling of food for specific groups which includes food intended for infants and young children, food for special medical purposes, and total diet replacement for weight control.
The DHSC says the proposals aim to ‘continue the existing regulatory regime closely, ensuring minimal disruption to business and consumers whilst safeguarding the nation’s health’.