§ Mr. LuffTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 27 January 1998,Official Report, column 209, for what reasons he has not made an assessment of the professional status or 550W qualifications of those who have written to him about the proposed controls on food supplements containing vitamin B6; and if he will make a statement. [26790]
§ Mr. RookerWe have received a large number of unsolicited representations on the subject of the Government's proposed controls on vitamin B6 in dietary supplements, many in the form of standard letters. It is our policy to reply to all representations received, regardless of the status of the correspondent. We see no reason to either record or assess the qualifications of those making representations.
The regulations required to implement the proposed controls on dietary supplements will be the subject of a formal consultation exercise and, subject to the views of respondents, the responses received will be made publicly available.
§ Mr. TylerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what criteria he uses to assess the relative merits of the advice from(a) the Committee on Toxicity and (b) other independent scientists who have made representations to the Ministry on the safety of vitamin B6; and if he will make a statement. [26397]
§ Mr. RookerThe role of the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) is to provide independent advice on matters within its remit. Its members are recognised nationally and internationally as experts in their disciplines which include the interface between toxicology and nutrition. Representations from scientists criticising the COT's advice on the safety of vitamin B6 have been copied to the COT secretariat and, where appropriate, to the Chairman of the COT for comment.