2026-11 EU Specialty Food Ingredients at CCNFSDU45

EU Specialty Food Ingredients’ delegation attended the 45th Session of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU), which was held from 2 to 6 November 2026 in Nuremberg, Germany.

The 45th Session of the Committee marked the successful conclusion of work, initiated in 2017, on establishing nutrient reference values for labelling purposes (NRVs-R) for persons aged 6–36 months. The Committee agreed on the NRVs-R for the ten outstanding vitamins and minerals, completing a comprehensive set of values for older infants and young children. The agreed values will be forwarded to the Codex Alimentarius Commission for adoption and inclusion in the Guidelines on Nutrition Labelling (CXG 2-1985).

In addition to the Plenary Session, EU Specialty Food Ingredients attended the Physical Working Groups (PWGs) on proposals for new work and emerging issues, as well as on the development of the Standard for foods for older infants and young children.

The Committee continued its work on the development of a new Codex standard for foods for older infants and young children, discussing, inter alia, the general principles, preamble and scope of the future standard, as well as issues related to the essential composition of these products. The draft standard will be further discussed by the dedicated Electronic Working Group (EWG).

The Committee also continued its assessment of the technological justification of food additives used in foods for infants. It concluded that the uses of several additives, including lecithin (INS 322(i)), lactic acid (INS 270), citric acid and citrates (INS 330, 331, 332), and mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (INS 471), were technologically justified in foods covered by the Standard for Infant Formula and Formulas for Special Medical Purposes Intended for Infants (CXS 72-1981). The dedicated EWG was re-established to consider a further batch of food additives ahead of the next Session.

Regarding methods of analysis, the Committee considered a number of methods falling under its remit and related issues, including methods for various nutrients in infant formula and other products for infants and young children, as well as a footnote applicable to dietary fibre methods. A dedicated EWG will continue the review of methods listed in the Recommended Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CXS 234-1999).

As regards new work, the Committee supported a proposal to review and revise the Guidelines for Vitamin and Mineral Food Supplements (CXG 55-2005). An EWG was established to undertake the revision and to conduct a stocktake of food supplements containing substances other than vitamins and minerals that fall under the purview of CCNFSDU.

EU Specialty Food Ingredients will continue to follow and contribute to the work of CCNFSDU, including the EWG developing the new standard for foods for older infants and young children, the EWG on technological justification of food additives, the EWG reviewing methods of analysis, and the EWG reviewing the Guidelines for Vitamin and Mineral Food Supplements. The next Session of CCNFSDU is tentatively scheduled for 24–28 April 2028 in Germany.