IPA EUROPE MANIFESTO
Probiotics: what's in a name?
IPA Europe brings together a forum of leading producers of probiotic cultures, probiotic foods, supplements, nutritionals and therapeutic products
Press Package
IPA Europe and European Dairy Association (EDA) joint statement on probiotics
For a better regulatory environment for probiotic food and food supplements in Europe
The science behind probiotics
Discover the 4 criteria to qualify microorganisms as “Probiotic” in foods and dietary supplements
IPA Europe's priorities:
better information for consumers,
better rules for the industry,
better quality of life
Event of interest
IPA EUROPE
Call for a responsible use of the term 'probiotic'
READ THE STATEMENT
IPA Europe events
IPA Europe News
Probiotics in Europe: Unlocking Health and Economic Benefits – Press Release
“Clear, accurate information on probiotics empowers consumers, supports responsible production, and fuels innovation—positioning Europe as a leader where science, health, and food culture meet”. This was the key message at the IPA Europe event held in Brussels, on December 2, 2025, titled “Exploring Probiotics in the EU: From Policy Dialogue ...
New EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR 2025/40/EC): What It Means for Probiotics
The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) 2025/40/EC sets out a unified EU framework to reduce the environmental footprint of packaging.It applies to all packaging — from business-to-business (B2B) to business-to-consumer (B2C) — and introduces ambitious goals on recyclability, waste reduction, and material efficiency. The regulation may have specific relevance for probiotic ...
Joint statement : What Do “Fermentation” and “Precision Fermentation” Really Mean? Fermented foods and drinks, including probiotic microorganisms, play an important role in diets.
Fermentation has been part of human innovation for centuries — from making bread, cheese, and beer, to producing probiotics food, for medicines and biofuels. But as science and technology evolve, it’s important to update how we talk about this essential process. That’s why IPA Europe, together with eight other European ...
Understanding Probiotic Foods and Supplements: 10 Key Questions on the Use of ‘Probiotic’ in Europe
A series of 10 key questions and answers about probiotic food and food supplements, providing a comprehensive overview of the ongoing discussions and the potential path toward a European market harmonization. It examines how the term ‘probiotic’ is currently used in Europe and worldwide, highlighting the European Commission’s interpretation and the impact of the recent European ...
The IPA Europe 2024 Manifesto: Empowering Informed Consumers and Supporting a Sustainable Food Industry.
The IPA Europe 2024 Manifesto sets out priorities and recommendations. IPA Europe supports the European probiotic industry’s efforts to enhance competitiveness and ensure product quality, while promoting a consistent, innovation-friendly regulatory environment. Probiotic foods and food supplements, when consumed in adequate amounts, may offer benefits for gut health, digestion, and ...
EU Novel Food Status Catalogue
In March 2024, IPA Europe and the European Food and Fermentation Cultures Association (EFFCA) issued the information to their members regarding the European Commission’s revised Novel Food Catalogue, which was originally published on November 16, 2023. We have actively collaborated with DG SANTE to enhance the classification process and to ...
IPA Europe Joins the European Microbiome Innovation for Health (EMIH).
As part of its commitment to advancing science-based innovation and regulatory clarity in the microbiome and probiotic sectors, IPA Europe is proud to join the European Microbiome Innovation for Health (EMIH). By becoming a member of this dynamic and multidisciplinary coalition, IPA Europe brings its long-standing expertise in the field of ...
IPA Europe co-signed a joint letter: the EFSA’s performance evaluation should support innovation and future regulatory revisions.
IPA Europe and 23 European industry groups have co-signed a joint open letter calling for a high-performing EFSA to boost the competitiveness of the EU agri-food sector. The joint letter highlights growing concerns about delays, increasing complexity, and regulatory burdens that are discouraging innovation and weakening the competitiveness of EU food and feed ...
IPA EUROPE PRESS RELEASE – Probiotics & EU Policies: IPA Europe calls for a Holistic approach to Probiotics in the EU, for Informed Consumers and Competitive Food Industry
At a recent policy breakfast hosted in the European Parliament, IPA Europe and MEPs highlighted the urgent need for a clear and science-based regulatory framework for probiotics. With growing consumer demand and a €10 billion market in Europe, the current lack of harmonization across member states risks stifling innovation and ...
IPA Europe and EDA joint position on probiotics
What are probiotic microorganisms?
Probiotics are live microorganisms that can be formulated into many different types of products, including foods, drugs, and dietary supplements.
Species of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium are most commonly used as probiotics, but the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Bacillus species are also used as probiotics. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB), including species of Lactobacillus, which have been used for preservation of food by fermentation for thousands of years, can serve a dual function by acting as agents of food fermentation and, in addition, potentially imparting beneficial effects.
However, the term “probiotic” should be reserved for live microorganisms that have been shown in controlled human studies to accomplish their beneficial action. Fermentation of food provides characteristic taste profiles and lowers the pH, which can help in prevention of spoilage microorganisms and potential pathogens.
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