Guidance on safety and relative bioavailability of nutrient sources for foods and supplements

Summary

This EFSA guidance document from the Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens provides a structured framework for assessing the safety and relative bioavailability of nutrient sources intended for use in foods and food supplements within the European Union. It likely outlines the data requirements, assessment approaches, and criteria by which nutrient forms are evaluated for equivalence to established reference sources. The document serves as a regulatory benchmark for manufacturers, risk assessors, and policymakers seeking authorisation of nutrient sources under EU food law.

UK applicability

Following Brexit, the UK operates its own regulatory framework under the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland rather than EFSA; however, this guidance remains highly relevant as a methodological reference point and may inform UK assessments given the substantial alignment between pre-exit EU legislation and retained UK food law.

Key measures

Bioavailability equivalence; safety thresholds; tolerable upper intake levels (ULs); nutrient source characterisation criteria

Outcomes reported

The guidance document sets out EFSA's methodological framework for evaluating the safety and relative bioavailability of nutrient sources used in foods and food supplements, covering assessment criteria and evidentiary standards required for regulatory submissions.

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