The legislation describes infant formula as being “the only processed foodstuff which wholly satisfies the nutritional requirements of infants during the first months of life until the introduction of appropriate complementary feeding”.1

To safeguard infants, the regulations protect its special status of being the only product that can be marketed as suitable for that use in infants from birth.

By contrast, follow-on formula is intended as the principle liquid element in an infant’s dietary intake once weaning and an increasingly diverse range of solid foods have been introduced into the growing infant’s diet. Follow-on formula is intended for use from six months onward.

As infant formula and follow-on formula have different roles, the law stipulates there should be a clear distinction between the two, with detailed requirements for the composition of each type of product. These specifications cover energy value, and macro- and micronutrients based on the scientific advice of the European Food Safety Authority.

The new regulations regard nutrition and health claims as promotional tools, used on a voluntary basis in the food industry. “Given the particular role of infant formula in the diet of infants, the use of nutrition and health claims should not be allowed for infant formula,” it says.