Earl Baldwin of Bewdleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What consideration they have given to the implications for freedom of trade within the European Union and between the European Union and the United States of the proposed new restrictions on the retail sale of vitamin B6 supplements; and what representations they have received on this matter from the United States Government. [HL1270]
124WA
§ Lord DonoughueOfficials in the Department of Trade and Industry have received one letter from the Office of the United States Trade Representative which, among other things, notes that the Government's proposed controls on dietary supplements containing vitamin B6 would have implications for US trade in this product. The Government have also received a representation on this subject from two United States senators.
The Government consider that the proposed controls are fully consistent with World Trade Organisation rules. They are based on sound scientific principles, and would apply equally to home produced and imported food supplements. Any food supplements containing vitamin B6 which are imported into the UK from the United States would therefore have to comply with the proposed limit of 10 mg per daily dose.
The proposed controls would not affect trade between the United States and other member states of the European Community, many of which already have much lower limits on the level of vitamin B6 in supplements sold under food law. The implications for trade within the European Union will be considered by the European Commission and other member states as part of the notification procedure under EC Directive 83/189.