Food Supplements Directive (Hansard, 22 October 2002)

§ Andrew Selous (South-West Bedfordshire)

I rise to present a petition about choice in health food products, signed by about 340 of my constituents, which reads: To the House of Commons The Petition of Consumers for Health Choice and its supporters, Declares that Consumers in the United Kingdom have for many years maintained good health by choosing to take safe vitamin and mineral supplements and herbal remedies; and fears that the European Food Supplements Directive and the Proposed European Directive on Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products would severely restrict the number and range of such products on general retail sale in the future. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons requires that the Secretary of State for Health does all in his power to protect the rights of the UK consumers by ensuring that such European legislation does not unnecessarily and unacceptably restrict the availability of natural health products. And the Petitioners remain, etc.

§ Dr. Stephen Ladyman (South Thanet)

I rise to present a petition in similar terms to the hon. Member for South-West Bedfordshire (Andrew Selous).

245 The petition reads: The Petition of Consumers for Health Choice and its supporters, declares that consumers in the United Kingdom have for many years maintained good health by choosing to take safe vitamin and mineral supplements and herbal remedies; and fears that the European Food Supplements Directive and the proposed European Directive on Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products would severely restrict the number and range of such products on general retail sale in the future. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons requires that the Secretary of State for Health does all in his power to protect the rights of UK consumers by ensuring that such European legislation does not unnecessarily and unacceptably restrict the availability of natural health products. And the Petitioners remain, etc. That petition was signed by more than 120 people at Herbs, Gardens and Health, a health food store in St. Peter's, near Broadstairs.