The Ministry of Health of Ukraine has registered an order approving the Requirements for nutritional value statements and food health statements.
Requirements apply to statements used in labeling, presentation, or advertising intended for the end consumer of food products in Ukraine.
A market operator who uses a nutritional or health claim must have evidence that the food product meets the conditions for use of that claim. Such evidence can be the results of laboratory studies (tests) carried out in accredited laboratories, calculations of the amount of ingredients / individual substances in a food product intended for the end consumer, in accordance with the amount of ingredients used in its production.
In particular, the statement that a food product has low calories (low in energy value) can only be indicated if the food does not contain more than 20 kcal (80 kJ) per 100 ml for liquid food or more than 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g for food. For table sweeteners, an upper limit of 4 kcal (17 kJ) per serving applies, or the equivalent of not more than 6 g of sucrose.
The statement that a food product has a reduced calorie content (energy value) can only be indicated if the calorie content is reduced by at least 30%, indicating the characteristics that lead to a decrease in the total calorie content.
A statement of zero-calorie can only be indicated if the food product does not contain more than 4 kcal (17 kJ) per 100 ml. For table sweeteners, an upper limit of 0.4 kcal (1.7 kJ) per serving applies, or the equivalent of not more than 6 g of sucrose.
The statement that a food product is fat-free can only be indicated if the food does not contain more than 0.5 g of fat per 100 g or per 100 ml.
The Order also provides examples of the correct use of health claims for specific nutrients and their categories in food labeling and advertising.
Cannot be used any health claim for beverages containing more than 1.2 percent alcohol by volume.