Dietary Supplements
Health

Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health by whom he was represented at the 30 April 2012 meeting of the European Commission's Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health; what views were expressed by his representatives at that meeting on proposals from other EU member states that work be brought forward to set maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements under the provisions of article 5 of the food supplements directive; what his policy objectives are in that area; what steps he plans to take to ensure that UK consumers do not lose access to safe and popular higher potency food supplements; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Public Health), Health; Guildford, Conservative)

The discussion at the 30 April 2012 meeting of the European Commission Standing Committee on the Food Chain, and Animal Health was regarding an amendment of Regulation (EC) 1925/2006 on the addition of vitamins and minerals and of certain other substances to foods, where some other delegations expressed their disappointment at the lack of harmonised maximum amounts of vitamins and minerals in food, urging the Commission to undertake this work.

There was no discussion of the setting maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements, under the provisions of article 5 of the Food Supplements Directive 2002/46/EC.

The Commission gave no indication of when negotiations will commence on the setting of maximum amounts of vitamins and minerals in food, or food supplements. Any future discussions need to ensure that the legislation is proportionate and based on evidence, so that consumers have confidence in what they buy, while maintaining a wide choice of safe products.