FOOD SUPPLEMENTS DIRECTIVE AND CONSUMER CHOICE

Early day motion 1817, tabled 15 March 2006 by Stephen O'Brien (Conservative). Signed by 96 members.

That this House notes the continuing concern about the potential impact of the Food Supplements Directive upon consumer choice in vitamin and mineral supplements; further notes that Ministers have accepted the recommendation of the Board of the Food Standards Agency that their approach to the interpretation of the key provisions of this legislation should be to work in Europe for maximum permitted levels for nutrients in supplements to be set on the basis of safety, whilst securing an enduring flexibility to permit onto the United Kingdom market safe and popular products which lie outside the otherwise restrictive provisions of this legislation; understands that the European Commission will shortly be consulting about the setting of such maximum permitted levels for nutrients under the provisions of Article 5 of the Food Supplements Directive; urges the Government immediately to adopt and implement a co-ordinated strategy for the achievement of their stated objectives for this process; and invites Ministers to keep this House fully informed of the progress that they are making in securing the support of the European Commission and other member states for the principle that consumers should not be denied access to safe supplements of their choice.

Signatures by party: Conservative 60, Labour 19, Liberal Democrat 11, DUP 3, Plaid Cymru 1, Scottish National Party 1, UUP 1.