§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the responses of European Union member states to the consultation exercise undertaken by the European Commission in connection with the forthcoming Directive on Food Supplements; and what assessment he has made of such responses in terms of their(a) consistency with and (b) opposition to United Kingdom policy and practice. [115796]
§ Ms StuartI have been asked to reply.
Member states' responses to the Commission's discussion paper on dietary supplements have not been published. Our view is that consumers should be allowed the greatest possible amount of choice consistent with adequate health protection, but there is limited support for this position from other member states. Most believe that controls on supplements should be based on the premise that the dose supplied should be restricted to a level close to that needed to ensure an adequate intake of nutrients.
The Food Standards Agency has recently circulated a preliminary draft text of the Directive on Food Supplements to interested parties for information. A formal consultation and parliamentary scrutiny will be initiated when a formal proposal has been adopted by the Commission.