France Ends 12-Year Ban on Red Bull

By: trademagazin Date: 2008. 07. 17. 00:00

Energy drink Red Bull appeared in its original recipe in France's shops for the first time on Tuesday, implementing European regulations.

The drink
had been banned in France for twelve years due to health authorities'
concerns about unknown consequences of the ingredient taurine, a
chemical forbidden in several countries. Until now a modified version of the
drink, containing caffeine but not taurine, was on sale in France.The French government was forced to
legalise the drink because European Union regulations state that a
product made or sold in other EU countries cannot be banned unless a
health risk is proven, France's food safety agency said on their
website.

Austria-based Red Bull agreed that
health warnings indicating the drink's high caffeine content,
recommending moderate consumption, and advising against consumption
by pregnant women and children, would feature on cans.