EU Attacked Over New Vitamin Rules

Vitamin and food supplement users have been badly let down by the Government's approval of a new European directive according to a Kent MP.

Former Asda chief executive and chairman, Archie Norman, warned the European Food Supplements Directive would see many supplements disappearing from shops.

The Conservative MP for Tunbridge Wells called on the Government to change the small print on the new law and save vitamins and mineral tablets used by millions of British people.

"Residents have been in touch with me asking me to help save the many vitamin and health supplements they have been using safely for years," he said. "This Government has let down vitamin and food supplements users by rubber stamping the badly-drafted European Food Supplements Directive. It is too late to reverse that decision, but it is not too late to change the way the laws will be enforced and the small print."

Under the European directive, to be enforced from August 1, 2005, vitamins like 1g vitamin C tablets - on sale in health stores such as Holland and Barrett - would be banned, say the Tories.

The EU directive is designed to harmonise the rules on vitamins and food supplements across the European Union. It provides a list of vitamins and minerals that can be used in food supplements. It also includes upper limits on certain vitamins.

Working with pressure group Consumers for Health Choice, actress Jenny Seagrove and the Tories' shadow health minister, Tim Yeo, launched an online petition against the plans. Mr Yeo said: "With the public's help, we will do everything we can to force ministers to preserve access to these products on behalf of British consumers."

Earlier this year, opponents of the new rules won their fight to take this issue to the European Court of Justice on the grounds that it was unlawful and would unfairly affect millions of people, threatening both health and trade.

London MEP John Bowis, the Conservative health and consumer rights spokesman in the European Parliament, said: "British consumers should have the right to choose what quantity of vitamin supplements they want to buy. There is not a single recorded case of a death caused by an overdose of vitamin supplements. This directive is not about consumer safety, but about the EU interfering in people's lives."

Mr Norman was chief executive of Asda Group PLC 1991-96 and chairman between 1996-99.
Kent on Sunday, 25th April 2004

Further Resources

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