Botanicals present a rich source of innovation for the food and beverage industry with their popularity fuelled by old wives tales based on their use as traditional medicines from generations past. Outside the perceived physical and mental health benefits, botanicals are an important flavour component in many products, from gins to teas and much more.
What regulations impact how you can use botanical ingredients?
Botanicals are regulated under three categories of food labelling regulations in the UK and EU; these are as food (such as herbal tea), food supplements and traditional herbal medicines. Deciding what food labelling requirements are relevant to your product takes a clear understanding of its intended use, safety and of course the novelty of the botanicals in use.
If used in foods, the Food Information to Consumers regulations of 2014 must be followed, any marketing and health claims should be selected from the approved Nutrition and Health Claims Register unless you intend to carry-out a novel foods application process. You can find out more about nutrition and health claims guidance here.
To be sold as a food supplement, they must be sold in dose form and have a proven physiological impact on the end consumer. However, this physiological effect cannot be in relation to treating, preventing or curing a medical condition – this is when it crosses over into traditional herbal medicines.
The line between a food supplement and a traditional herbal medicine is rather grey; it is important to be clear which category your product falls into as the regulatory frameworks for each varies substantially.
Where to go to find out more?
The EU provides opinions on the safety and efficacy of botanical substances in the EU herbal monographs by the EU’s Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products’. There is also a register for traditional herbal medicines which includes uses and claims.
Ashbury offers food labelling services and food regulatory advice from leading global experts who have joined forces with many brands to navigate botanical regulations – we’re here to help if you would like to find out more. 
