The European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance (ESSNA) is urging anyone who might be aware of illegal activity by sports nutrition organisations to step forward and report them.
It has created a dedicated form on its website which allows individuals to anonymously bring to its attention non-compliant activity taking place anywhere in the EU. The form is aimed at both ESSNA members and non-members, as well as leaders in the industry, consumers and members of the general public.
Non-compliant activity can include adding illegal ingredients to sports nutrition products on sale in the EU which puts the health of consumers at risk. A small but persistent minority of companies also refuse to abide by European laws that cover the health claims they can make for their product, often misleading their customers by claiming that what they are purchasing can achieve improbable medical or sporting results.
ESSNA is the voice of the sports nutrition industry in dialogue with regulators, policy makers, the media and consumers, and it campaigns in favour of proportionate EU legislation that does not adversely affect the industry. It also acts as a “police” to the industry by monitoring and reporting irresponsible companies which flout EU law – putting consumers at potential risk from dangerous products – to the relevant authorities with which it has built strong relationships. The creation of the dedicated form on its website is the next step of its well established non-compliance campaign which aims reduce the number of companies operating illegally under the sports nutrition banner in the EU. Since the campaign’s inception in 2013, ESSNA has dealt with over 50 cases of companies operating illegally.
ESSNA is also encouraging the industry to get in touch via its recently launched Twitter and LinkedIn accounts, @ESSNASports and the European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance.
Dr Adam Carey, Chair of ESSNA, said:
“It is very important that the entire industry is vigilant and on guard against any illegal activity. There are hundreds of responsible and law-abiding sports nutrition organisations across the EU that are working tirelessly to ensure our consumers’ safety and protection, however despite our best efforts, there are still many companies out there selling dangerous products masquerading as sports supplements or misleading their customers by how they advertise their products. If we all work collectively together we are much more likely to catch the perpetrators and ensure they are shut down permanently. We hope that by providing new forms of communication this will encourage more people to step forward and help us in our efforts to rid the industry of these dangers”