The European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance (ESSNA) has announced that leading sports nutrition companies Medix Laboratoires and SMART Nutrition have joined its membership.
Belgian sports nutrition and food supplements manufacturer Medix Laboratoires and leading Dubai-based supplementation company SMART Nutrition become the latest companies to commit themselves to ESSNA’s core values of ‘the highest safety standards and the upholding of EU regulations on the content and labelling of sports nutrition products’. They join recent ESSNA member FrieslandCampina and bring ESSNA’s total number of members up to 47, drawn from across the EU and beyond.
ESSNA is the voice of the sports nutrition industry in dialogue with regulators and policy makers, campaigning in favour of proportionate EU legislation that does not adversely affect the industry.
In recent weeks, ESSNA Vice-Chair Suzane Leser published a paper in the British Nutrition Foundation’s Nutrition Bulletin discussing the regulatory framework governing sports nutrition products and putting forward recommendations for achieving legal clarity and ensuring consumer protection.
ESSNA also acts as ‘police’ to the industry by monitoring and reporting irresponsible companies that flout EU law and may put consumers at potential risk from dangerous products.
Dr Adam Carey, Chair of ESSNA, said “I am delighted to see ESSNA’s membership continue to grow. That we are attracting interest from companies from all around the EU, and beyond, is a reflection of a rapidly growing interest from businesses in the sector in upholding the highest possible standards and protecting consumers from dangerous and illegal products. We are delighted to welcome Medix Laboratoires and SMART Nutrition to our group and we are confident that others in the industry will follow their example.”
He continued, “We can only achieve our aims by working together. Now, more than ever, companies are starting to realise the importance of our sector working in partnership and having a strong, collective voice. It is crucial that we continue to do so and join efforts to ensure consumer safety across the EU and beyond.”
Mark Robinson, Managing Director at SMART Nutrition, explained “When we were looking for regulatory bodies to join, our intentions were to be associated with the very best organisations that pride themselves on the highest of standards, holding themselves accountable for quality assurance. The industry needs a regulatory body that is able to lead with passion, commitment and integrity, setting standards for the food supplement industry to adhere to. We feel ESSNA and its team have these standards and couldn’t be happier with our partnership.
“Smart Nutrition is delighted with the partnership and proud to have the ESSNA approval on our products and services.”
“Medix Laboratoires feels honoured and delighted to be a part of ESSNA,” said Wim D’Herde, CEO at Medix Laboratoires. “Medix Laboratoires wants to thank ESSNA for its help with the European legislation of sports nutrition and food supplements.”
