§ Mr. HainTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what resolutions were passed at recent meetings of the Council of Consumer Ministers relating to "miracle products"; if he will set out the terms of all resolutions; if he will make a statement on the definition of the term "miracle product"; and if he will make a statement. [6121]
Mr. John M. TaylorAt its meeting on 9 November 1995, the EU Consumer Council of Ministers adopted a resolution on products presented as being beneficial to health, commonly referred to as "miracle products".
The resolution asks the Commission, in close co-operation with the member states, to describe the current situation regarding:
the practice in the trade of miracle products in the member statesthe functioning, at Community and national level, of existing mechanisms regarding the protection of consumers against these practicesand to submit its findings to the Council by 1 November 1996 at the latest."Miracle products" are those products, other than officially registered medicinal products, presented as having properties which prevent, diagnose, treat, alleviate 776W or cure diseases or complaints or adjust bodily functions or mental state, but where there is generally no scientific evidence to substantiate such claims or properties.
We hope that the Commission's study will clarify for those member states which experience problems in this area the range of existing powers available to them for dealing with the advertising and promotion of miracle products.