UK Nutrition and Health Claims Committee (UKNHCC) and EU transition scientific risk assessment
Scientific risk assessment of nutrition and health claim applications and other nutrition-related matters after the transition period (1 January 2021).
Terms of reference
The UK Nutrition and Health Claims Committee (UKNHCC) is a committee of independent experts set up to provide scientific advice to the UK government on the substantiation of scientific evidence underpinning nutrition and health claim applications.
The UK government and devolved administrations make decisions on whether to authorise nutrition and health claims.
The UKNHCC is supported in its work by a secretariat provided by the Office of Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). The secretariat has scientific expertise to support the decision-making processes of the committee.
Code of practice
The UKNHCC operates in keeping with guidelines governing scientific advisory committees such as the Government Office for Science’s code of practice for scientific advisory committees (CoPSAC).
The sets out how the committee puts into practice the guidelines governing scientific advisory committees and a framework for the evaluation of evidence; these follow a similar approach to that of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN)’s code of practice, the SACN framework for the evaluation of evidence and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)’s scientific and technical guidance) to ensure a consistent approach is taken with all reviews.
UKNHCC framework for the evaluation of evidence
The UKNHCC follows a framework for the evaluation of evidence submitted for the substantiation of nutrition and health claims (March 2023), to ensure a consistent approach is taken with all its assessments.
Membership
UKNHCC members are appointed as independent scientific experts based on their specific skills and knowledge.
Members are required to conduct themselves in accordance with the code of practice for scientific advisory committees.
The committee is chaired by Professor Susan Fairweather-Tait, Professor of Human Nutrition, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia
The members are:
- Dr Robert Boyle, Clinical Reader in Paediatric Allergy, Imperial College London, and Associate Professor of Evidence-Based Dermatology, University of Nottingham
- Dr Francesca Crowe, Research Fellow at the Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham
- Professor Alison Gallagher, Professor of Public Health Nutrition, Ulster University
- Dr Darren Greenwood (co-opted), Senior Lecturer in Biostatistics, School of Medicine, University of Leeds
- Professor Marina Heinonen, Professor of Food Safety (Chemical Food Safety) at the University of Helsinki, Finland and the Head of the Department of Food and Nutrition
- Professor Harry McArdle, Emeritus professor, Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen and Trustee, Academy of Nutrition Sciences (ANS)
- Professor Anders Sjödin, Medical doctor and emeritus professor of Obesity Research, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, Copenhagen University, Denmark
Further information on committee members is included in UKNHCC Annual Reports.
Register of interests
The UKNHCC Register of interests contains details of all declarations of interest made by members. This information is updated as and when declarations are made.
UKNHCC meetings
There are up to 6 meetings of the UKNHCC a year. Meeting agendas are published prior to meetings. Minutes will be published as soon as these have been agreed. Meetings will be closed to observation.
2024 meetings schedule:
- 2 May
- 21 May
- 9 July
- 27 September
- 26 November
View all UKNHCC meeting agendas and minutes.
Recruitment of members
Members are appointed on a fixed term, which may be for up to a maximum of 3 years, in keeping with the code of practice.
Members are recruited with expertise in:
- nutrition
- nutritional epidemiology
- human medicine
- infant nutrition
- paediatrics
- dietary exposure assessment
They have a good understanding of the public health nutrition aspects of their area of expertise, a track record of significant achievement and personal effectiveness and the ability to contribute robust technical views. Applicants directly employed by industry are not eligible to apply.
Making an application for authorisation of a health claim
From 1 January 2021, applicants who wish to apply for authorisation of a health claim under Articles 13(5) or 14 of the retained Regulation (EC) No. 1924/2006, as amended by the Nutrition (Amendment etc) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, and the Nutrition (Amendment etc) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 or for modification of an existing authorisation, should consult the EFSA guidance on the scientific requirements for health claims related to:
- antioxidants, oxidative damage and cardiovascular health (Revision 1)
- appetite ratings, weight management and blood glucose concentrations
- bone, joints, skin and oral health
- functions of the nervous system, including psychological functions
- muscle function and physical performance (Revision 1)
- the immune system, the gastrointestinal tract and defence against pathogenic microorganisms
and complete the . The UKNHCC will take a similar approach to that established by the EFSA.
The UKNHCC secretariat will publish application summaries and UKNHCC scientific opinions once they are available.
For details on how to submit an application, applicants should refer to section 1 of DHSC guidance on nutrition and health claims on foods.
Applications
View status of applications for nutrition and health claims received by the UKNHCC for risk assessment and published scientific opinions.
Scientific opinions
See all UKNHCC scientific opinions.
Annual reports
See the first UKNHCC annual report 2021.
See the second UKNHCC annual report 2022.
United Kingdom total diet replacement ad hoc working group
See details of the ad hoc working group.
News
Second UKNHCC annual report 2022 published
The second UKNHCC annual report 2022 for the calendar year 2022, has been published.
UKNHCC framework for the evaluation of evidence published
UKNHCC follows a set framework for the evaluation of evidence on nutrition and health claims, to ensure a consistent approach is taken with all its assessments.
Second UKNHCC scientific opinion published
The UKNHCC scientific opinion on a single component of Morus alba (white mulberry) leaf extract and assisting healthy blood glucose levels was published on 20 January 2023.
First UKNHCC annual report 2021 published
The first UKNHCC annual report, for the calendar year 2021, was published on 3 March 2022.
First UKNHCC scientific opinion published
The UKNHCC scientific opinion on a combination of lutein, zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin and improved visual performance was published on 1 September 2021.
Announcement of UKNHCC members
Public Health England (PHE) announced the appointment of 8 independent experts to the newly-established UKNHCC on 29 October 2020.
Contact details
UKNHCC secretariat
Office for Health Improvement and Disparities
Department of Health and Social Care
39 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0EU
Email: uknhcc@dhsc.gov.uk
Media enquiries
Contact the DHSC press office.