Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to propolis (ID 1242, 1245, 1246, 1247, 1248, 3184) and flavonoids in propolis (ID 1244, 1644, 1645, 3526, 3527, 3798, 3799) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006

Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies was asked to provide a scientific opinion on a list of health claims pursuant to Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. This opinion addresses the scientific substantiation of health claims in relation to propolis and flavonoids in propolis. The scientific substantiation is based on the information provided by the Member States in the consolidated list of Article 13 health claims and references that EFSA has received from Member States or directly from stakeholders. The food(s)/food constituent(s) that are the subject of the health claims are propolis or flavonoids in propolis related to the following claimed effects: \u201crespiratory health\u201d, \u201cantibacterial and antifungal activities\u201d, \u201cthroat comfort\u201d, \u201cgut health\u201d, \u201csupports immune defences\u201d, \u201cmaintenance of oral health\u201d, \u201chelps to maintain a normal blood circulation\u201d and \u201chepatoprotective\u201d. The references provided reported on differences in biological activity between propolis preparations from different sources. Levels of what are assumed to be biologically active constituents in some propolis preparations are low or undetectable in other propolis preparations. Further, the papers provided for the scientific substantiation of the claims reported on a wide range of different propolis preparations, extracts and isolated components, and it is not clear for which type of propolis preparation/constituent the claims are mad