§ Earl Howeasked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the outcome of the telephone conversation between the Minister for Public Health and Commissioner Byrne on 12 March in relation to the Food Supplements Directive; and whether a date has been set for a meeting between the Minister and the Commissioner to take forward further discussions. [HL2567]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner)Directive 2002/46/ EC on food supplements came into force on 12 July 2002. The Food Supplements Regulations England 2003, which 155WA implement the Directive in England, were laid before Parliament in June 2003 and the provisions are set to come into force on 1 August 2005. There is parallel legislation in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
In October 2003 the Minister for Public Health (Miss Melanie Johnson), had a useful meeting with representatives of the health food industry to discuss their concerns over the potential impact of the directive, particularly relating to the submission of safety dossiers to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and to the future setting of European maximum levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements.
Since then there has been a constructive meeting, facilitated by the Food Standards Agency, between industry representatives and representatives of the EFSA to discuss safety dossiers.
In addition, the Minister for Public Health recently set out the Government's views on the setting of maximum limits to Commissioner David Byrne. EFSA is continuing work on safe upper limits for intakes of vitamins and minerals begun by the Scientific Committee on Food. It is not expected to complete this work until Summer 2005 at the earliest. The Commission will not publish a proposal on EU maximum limits until this work is complete. Commissioner Byrne and the Minister for Public Health agreed to talk again when EFSA's advice has been published and, if appropriate, meet. In the mean time, officials continue to press the case for safety based maximum limits in all the relevant European fora. They are also keeping in close contact with the Commission officials who will in due course draft the proposal on EU maximum limits. The Minister for Public Health has asked for progress reports.
The Minister for Public Health is willing to meet again with food supplement industry representatives. However, she has suggested to the industry that before such a meeting takes place it would be useful for industry technical advisers to meet Food Standards Agency officials to discuss detailed technical issues relating to dossiers and then for the industry to gain experience of submitting such dossiers to EFSA.