§ Lord Clement-Jonesasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action has been taken to promote to other European member states the methodology for establishing safe levels of nutrient intake adopted by the Expert Advisory Group on Vitamins and Minerals; and what further plans they have for promoting their policies of case-by-case reviews of published literature on nutrient safety. [HL5157]
346WA
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner)Article 5 of the Food Supplements Directive lays out a framework for the future setting of maximum permitted levels of vitamins and minerals in food supplements. The United Kingdom continues to press for European Union maximum permitted limits to be set on a safety basis, and in doing so, is using its influence in both scientific and political forums. My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health intends to raise this issue with Ministers in other member states as and when appropriate. She is also seeking to arrange a meeting with Commissioner David Byrne at the earliest practicable opportunity.
§ Earl Howeasked Her Majesty's Government:
What specific plans they have to liaise at political level with other European Union member states as part of their strategy for achieving the best possible maximum permitted levels for nutrients under the provisions of the Food Supplements Directive; and [HL5199]
What plans they have to raise with the appropriate European Commissioner the concerns of the United Kingdom about the interpretation which the Commission may propose for Article 5 of the Food Supplements Directive. [HL5198]
§ Lord WarnerArticle 5 of the Food Supplements Directive lays out a framework for the future setting of maximum permitted levels of vitamins and minerals in food supplements. The United Kingdom continues to press for European Union maximum permitted limits to be set on a safety basis, and in doing so, is using its influence in both scientific and political forums. My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health intends to raise this issue with Ministers in other member states as and when appropriate. She is also seeking to arrange a meeting with Commissioner David Byrne at the earliest practicable opportunity.