§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on the international regulation of vitamins and minerals at the Codex Alimentarius Commission; and if he will make a statement. [131492]
§ Ms StuartA proposal for draft guidelines for vitamin and mineral supplements was discussed at the meeting of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses on 19–23 June 2000. The Committee made some progress towards consensus on the text and will discuss it further at its next meeting.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when(a) he and (b) his officials last attended European Ministerial Working Group meetings to discuss the Draft European Directive on Food Supplements; what assessment he has made of the extent to which the Directive provides for the continued access by consumers to safe dietary supplements on retail sale; what amendments are being proposed to that Directive by other member state Governments; and if he will make a statement; [131491]
407W(2) what his policy objectives are in relation to the proposed Food Supplements Directive; what the timetable is for further progress in discussions on the Directive; and if he will make a statement. [131493]
§ Ms StuartThere have been no meetings at ministerial level to discuss this proposal. It was discussed by officials at a council expert working group held in July, and the Food Standards Agency has circulated details of the specific issues discussed to interested parties. The timetable for further discussions has not been announced but the next meeting of this group is due in September.