DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS

Early day motion 106, tabled 11 June 1997 by David Tredinnick (Conservative). Signed by 67 members.

That this House notes that millions of United Kingdom consumers regularly take vitamin, mineral and other dietary supplements either to promote their overall health and well-being, or to tackle specific nutritional difficulties; welcomes that contribution to public health and to reducing demands upon the National Health Service which such supplementation has made and reiterates its view that consumers should continue to have access to dietary supplements of their choice provided there is no safety risk; notes that such a safety-based approach remains the basis of British Government policy and believes that such access should be available to all consumers within the Single Market; notes the recent publication of a European Commission discussion document which could ultimately give rise to a new Draft Directive on dietary Supplements; fears that other member governments of the European Union may use that opportunity once again to argue for a ban on the sale of safe higher dose supplements currently available in the United Kingdom; and urges Her Majesty's Government and consumers of dietary supplements in other European countries to press now for a European Union-wide policy that supplements should be available to consumers provided there is no known safety risk.

Signatures by party: Labour 26, Liberal Democrat 16, Conservative 14, Plaid Cymru 4, Labour/Co-operative 3, Scottish National Party 2, UUP 2.