HC Deb 09 July 2001 vol 371 cc382-3W
Mr. Todd

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the work of the ad hoc expert advisory group on vitamins and minerals. [1993]

Yvette Cooper

I have been asked to reply.

The Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals was established to review the safety of high-dose vitamin and mineral supplements to ensure that the public are not put at risk.

The group expect to complete the reviews of the relevant scientific information on the safety of individual vitamins and minerals shortly. Following this, the group will complete risk assessments for the vitamins and minerals reviewed. Its conclusions will be issued by the Food Standards Agency for public consultation with a view to publishing its final report in 2002. A copy of the final report will be sent to the Scientific Committee on Food to inform deliberations by that committee on a draft proposal for an EU Council Directive relating to the addition of nutrients to foods.