HC Deb 16 December 1992 vol 216 cc242-3W
Ms. Lynne

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the prevalence of unsubstantiated claims of health benefits made in the United Kingdom about specific vitamin, mineral and other dietary supplements, and which were not covered by existing legislation.

Mr. Soames

The Food Advisory Committee examined these issues in its recent review of food labelling and advertising and made recommendations for some tightening of controls on the claims which may be made for foods, including food supplements. My right hon. Friend is, however, expecting proposals from the European Commission shortly which will include controls on claims made on food labels, and we need to await those before deciding the way forward.

Ms. Lynne

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has personally had with Ministers in other European Governments in an effort to enlist their support for his policy on the continuing availability of vitamin, mineral and other dietary supplements.

Mr. Soames

My judgment is that the personal intervention of a United Kingdom Minister would be premature at this stage. Officials have established the broad views of other member states in discussion in Brussels and will seek to persuade others of the merits of the United Kingdom view as negotiations proceed.

Ms. Lynne

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he is expecting to receive from the European Commission a draft of the forthcoming directive on dietary supplements.

Mr. Soames

The timing of proposals is a matter for the Commission, but I have no information to suggest that any proposal on this subject is imminent.

Ms. Lynne

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on which companies currently market in the United Kingdom vitamin, mineral and other dietary supplements in such high concentrations that they might reasonably be considered to be potentially hazardous; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Soames

The question of potentially toxic doses of vitamins and minerals is a complex scientific issue which is currently being reviewed by the European Commission's scientific committee for food. At present dietary supplements must comply with food safety requirements set out in our food legislation which also enables us to take action to prevent unsafe products being sold.