PRIME MINISTER AND PERMITTED LEVELS FOR VITAMINS AND MINERALS

Early day motion 2430, tabled 22 June 2006 by Stephen O'Brien (Conservative). Signed by 55 members.

That this House notes that on 6th June 2006 the European Commission published a discussion document on the setting of maximum and minimum levels of vitamins and minerals, commencing the process of risk management and the setting of maximum levels at which nutrients may be present in food supplements; recalls the comments of the Prime Minister in May 2005 that the Food Supplements Directive is a good example of poor regulation and that it is `wholly out of proportion to the risks'; further recalls that the Government and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) have committed themselves to lobbying in Europe for the continued availability in the United Kingdom of popular supplements which have been safely permitted for many years; observes that recent Written Answers by the Minister for Public Health reveal that there has been no Ministerial contact with the Commissioner since July 2005; further notes that FSA officials have not yet succeeded in convincing any other Member State to support the UK negotiating position and that the UK regulatory approach was ignored by the recent Commission Document; and invites the Prime Minister to explain to the House how he will deliver on his objectives for this legislation.

Signatures by party: Conservative 41, Liberal Democrat 8, Labour 2, Plaid Cymru 2, DUP 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.