Annex I of the Regulation lists the vitamins and/or minerals which may be added to foods. These may only be added in the forms listed in Annex II, subject to the rules laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006.
However, the Regulation grants a degoration from this requirement until the 19th January 2014 (THIS COULD BE OUT OF DATE), as it permits Member States to allow in their territory the use of vitamins and minerals not listed in Annex I, or in forms not listed in Annex II, provided that:
- the substance in question is used for addition to foods marketed in the Community on 19 January 2007; and
- the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has not given an unfavourable opinion in respect of the use of that substance, or its use in that form, in the manufacture of food, on the basis of a dossier supporting use of the substance in question that has to be submitted to the Commission by the Member State not later than 19th January 2010.
Vitamins and minerals added to foods must be in a form that is bio-available to the human body, whether or not they are usually contained therein, in order to take into account, in particular:
- a deficiency of one or more vitamins and/or minerals in the population or specific population groups that can be demonstrated by clinical or sub-clinical evidence of deficiency or indicated by estimated low levels of intake of nutrients; or
- the potential to improve the nutritional status of the population or specific population groups and/or correct possible deficiencies in dietary intakes of vitamins or minerals due to changes in dietary habits; or
- evolving generally acceptable scientific knowledge on the role of vitamins and minerals in nutrition and consequent effects on health.