| Where do you stand on Food Supplements?
21 Jan 2005 |
|
There is an all-party campaign against the Food Supplements Directive and the consequent threat to vitamin tablets. This has my full support. There will be an Opposition Day debate on this subject on Tuesday. It will reflect Early Day Motion 414 which says this. Renegotiation of Food Supplements Directive That this House regrets the passing of the Food Supplements Regulations (England) 2003; mandates the Government to use the UK Presidency to renegotiate the Food Supplements Directive with the European Union; and indicates a willingness to repeal the regulations if the renegotiation does not reach a satisfactory compromise to protect the interests of consumers and manufacturers in the United Kingdom. I will be supporting that motion if there is a division. The UK specialist health product industry is threatened by overburdensome EU-initiated legislation to which the UK Government has conceded, whilst protesting its reluctance to do so. The EU Food Supplements Directive, finalised 2 1/2 years ago, seeks to harmonise the market in food supplements throughout Europe. It is intended as multi-stage legislation. The first stage is ‘Positive List’ legislation for vitamin and mineral supplements (VMS) that was brought into force in the UK in July 2003. Subsequent stages will determine maximum permitted levels for VMS and the legislation will then be extended to other supplement categories. My view is that the UK Government should maintain the ability of the consumer to buy the many well-established and safe specialist supplements that are currently available in theUK and should also ensure that companies retain the opportunity to introduce new, safe, efficacious products in the future. |