MEP Gerald Hauser (PfE) has asked the European Commission for an update on whether the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has classified lithium as an essential nutrient, following earlier indications that studies were underway. The question, submitted on 13 April 2026, seeks clarity on EFSA's opinion, study results, and the Commission's planned timeline for a decision. The issue affects EU consumers potentially interested in lithium's cognitive benefits, the food supplements industry, Alzheimer's research stakeholders, and EFSA's regulatory workload.
Hauser's written question (E-001488/2026) references the Commission's previous answer of 14 November 2025, which stated that EFSA did not currently classify lithium as essential and that tests were examining lithium-based drugs for Alzheimer's disease. The Commission had committed to consulting EFSA on whether further examination of lithium's potential essentiality warranted an official opinion.
whether EFSA has issued an opinion, the results or findings of EFSA studies to date, and the Commission's next steps with an expected timeline for a decision or opinion. The question signals Hauser's interest in accelerating the scientific evaluation of lithium's nutritional status, which could have implications for dietary recommendations and supplement regulation.
Policy orientations from the question suggest a push for EFSA to recognise lithium as essential, which would align with broader EU strategic autonomy goals for critical raw materials, though the focus here is on nutrition rather than industrial use. The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks; its answer will indicate whether EFSA has progressed on the matter and whether the EU is moving toward formal recognition of lithium's essentiality in the diet.
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