HL Deb 30 July 1997 vol 582 cc55-6WA
Baroness Wharton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What recent representations about the ban on higher dose vitamin B6 they have received from Professor Alan Gaby or others who have reviewed the published literature relating to supplementation with such vitamins; and whether any such representations supported or opposed the introduction of the ban.

Lord Donoughue

The Government have no intention of introducing a ban on higher dose vitamin B6 products. They have accepted advice from the independent Food Advisory Committee that the level of vitamin B6 in dietary supplements sold under food should be limited to a maximum of 10mg per daily dose. However, higher dose products licensed as medicines for the treatment of specific clinical conditions will continue to be available from pharmacies and on prescription.

On 23 July my honourable friends the Minister of State at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Minister for Public Health met with representatives of organisations who were unhappy with the proposed limit in order to listen to their concerns. Professor Alan Gaby was present at that meeting as part of a delegation from Consumers for Health Choice. He also met with officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food earlier on the same day. On both occasions he questioned the validity of the scientific evidence upon which the proposed limit is based.