In a written answer on 3 July 2026, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Olivér Várhelyi informed the European Parliament that the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded current evidence is insufficient to classify lithium as an essential nutrient for humans or animals. The answer, responding to a question from MEP Gerald Hauser (PfE), confirms that no further regulatory action is planned at this stage, disappointing advocates who had hoped for dietary reference values or health claims. The decision impacts researchers, the supplement industry, and consumers interested in lithium's potential cognitive benefits.
The question followed up on the Commission's earlier reply of 14 November 2025, which had promised to consult EFSA on the matter. Várhelyi's answer details that EFSA reviewed the evidence, including a Nature publication on lithium depletion and brain ageing in mice, and a 2025 lecture by Dr Michael Nehls to the European Parliament. EFSA's response, however, found that lithium lacks a defined biochemical role, no reproducible deficiency symptoms have been demonstrated, and human trials are absent. The authority will continue monitoring research but has no plans to issue an opinion or propose legislative changes. The answer thus closes the file for now, with no timeline for further review.