Energy shots are defined as high caffeine, small volume liquid products sold in Europe as ‘food supplements’ under the Food Supplements Directive 2002/46/EC. They have the purpose to supplement the normal diet and are concentrated sources of nutrients or other substances with nutritional or physiological effect.
Energy shots may contain caffeine, taurine, vitamins and other substances with a nutritional or physiological effect. The safety of their key ingredients has been assessed and confirmed by European risk assessment institutions.
Unesda and its members recognise public discussions about the marketing of energy shots and their appropriate consumption. Energy shots are a new product category and their manufacturers accept their responsibility in playing a constructive role in addressing these discussions in a coordinated approach, above and beyond compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Therefore Unesda has developed the ‘Code for the labelling and marketing of energy shots’, which also complements Section III on ‘advertising and commercial communications’ of the Unesda commitments.
Unesda and its members recognise in particular the need to educate consumers about the concentrated nature of energy shots that may not be immediately apparent.
Unesda and its members are committed to adhere to these principles in labelling and marketing of energy shots, which empower consumers to a responsible and moderate consumption of these products above and beyond the compliance with applicable legislation. The code aims to establish a strict minimum industry standard for the labelling and marketing of energy shots. It doesn’t preclude any individual Unesda member taking an even more stringent approach.
Unesda encourages its national federations to promote the adoption of the code by local companies, to facilitate its implementation and to incorporate them into national codes, as appropriate.
These voluntary principles will take effect immediately and be fully implemented in the marketplace by Unesda members by the end of 2012.
Source: Unesda
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