HC Deb 10 December 1992 vol 215 c753W
Mrs. Wise

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he expects the forthcoming European directive on dietary supplements to include vitamin C in(a) tablet, (b) liquid or (c) powder form; and what steps are being taken by his Department to ensure that British consumers continue to have access to vitamin, mineral and other dietary supplements of their choice in those cases where no problems arising from self-overdosing have been recorded.

Mr. Soames

The discussion paper produced by the European Commission in advance of proposals for a directive did not deal in detail with individual vitamins. I have no further information on what the Commission may propose.

Mrs. Wise

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps have been taken by his Department to seek to identify other member Governments of the European Community which will agree to adopt his Department's position in respect of the forthcoming European directive on dietary supplements.

Mr. Soames

We have established the broad views of other member states in discussion in Brussels and through bilateral contacts. We will seek to persuade others of the merits of the United Kingdom case as negotiations proceed.

Mrs. Wise

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations he has received concerning the conclusions of the Denner report; and what consideration he is giving to those representations.

Mr. Soames

I have received 63 representations on the Denner report in total. These have been considered and were taken into account in shaping our proposal submitted to the Commission earlier this year.

Mrs. Wise

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the current state of progress on the Denner report commissioned by his Department on dietary supplements.

Mr. Soames

Action on most of the recommendations in the Denner report is dependent on the introduction of Community legislation on dietary supplements. We are awaiting Commission proposals in this area.

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