HC Deb 20 June 2002 vol 387 cc548-52W
Dr. Iddon

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of(a) the provisional findings of the EU Scientific Committee on Food on the upper safe levels of nutrient intake for vitamin-B6 and Niacin and (b) the levels accepted as safe in the UK by health food manufacturers; and by how much and for what reasons he expects those levels to be further reduced under the Provisions of Article 5 of the European Food Supplements Directive when being used as the basis for setting maximum permitted levels of nutrient content in food supplements. [60197]

Ms Blears

The Government will take a view on these provisional findings when it receives advice from the expert group on vitamins and minerals (EVM), which has been established to draw up advice on maximum safe intakes of vitamins and minerals. The EVM is expected to publish its findings during the summer, and is aware of both the assessments of the SCF and other expert evaluations of the available evidence.

The Government continues to press for a safety-based approach to setting of maximum limits under Article 5 of the EU food supplements directive; no specific levels for individual nutrients have yet been discussed.

Dr. Iddon

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action the Food Standards Agency and his Department plans to take(a) to promote to other European Member States and Commission officials the conclusions of the forthcoming report from his Ad Hoc Expert Advisory Group on Vitamins and Minerals, (b) to commence a dialogue with Commission officials and the EU Scientific Committee on Foods about the information requirements for dossiers submitted for consideration in relation to the safety of vitamins and minerals which have been on the market for many years and (c) to use interGovernmental contact with other EU Member States to pursue his objectives in relation to the interpretation of the provisions of Article 5 of the Food Supplements Directive. [60198]

Ms Blears

The food standards agency (FSA) will circulate the draft report of the expert group on vitamins and minerals (EVM) to the commission and all EU Member States, and will contact key officials to discuss the implications of these findings as appropriate.

At the request of industry the scientific committee for foods has issued guidance on the required content of safety dossiers supporting use of nutrient sources, and the commission has issued guidance on the procedures for submitting such dossiers. The Government considers the guidance to be helpful and does not intend to intervene.

The FSA continues to take every opportunity to put the case to other European Union member states that Article 5 of the EU food supplements directive should not be used to restrict unnecessarily the range of food supplements available to consumes specific plans for further contacts will be drawn up as appropriate when detailed risk assessments are available for discussion.

Dr. Iddon

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list(a) those nutrients and nutrient sources which are permitted for inclusion in food supplements under the annexes of the European Food Supplements Directive and (b) those nutrients and nutrient sources which are available on the UK market but which are not included in those annexes. [60194]

Ms Blears

The final text of the directive, following adoption at development council on 30 May 2002, has not yet been published. Nutrients and nutrient sources permitted for inclusion in food supplements under the annexes of the European Food Supplements Directive (common position adopted by the Council on 3 December 2001) and published in theOfficial Journal C 90 E/1 on 16 April 2002 are listed. Nutrients Vitamins A, C, D, E, K, B1, B2, B6, B12, biotin, folic acid, niacin, pantothenic acid Minerals: calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, iodine, zinc, manganese, sodium, potassium, selenium, chromium, molybdenum, fluoride, chloride, phosphorus Nutrient sources Sources of vitamin A

  • Retinol
  • Retinyl acetate
  • Retinyl palmitate
  • Beta-carotene
Sources of vitamin B
  • Thiamin hydrochloride
  • Thiamin mononitrate
  • Riboflavin
  • Riboflavin 5-phosphate, sodium
  • Nicotinic acid
  • Nicotinamide
  • D-pantothenate, calcium
  • D-pantothenate, sodium
  • Dexpanthenol
  • Pyridoxine hydrochloride
  • Pyridoxine 5-phosphate
  • Pterolylmonoglutamic acid
  • Cyanocobalamin
  • Hydroxycobalamin
  • D-biotin
Sources of vitamin C
  • L-ascorbic acid
  • Sodium L-ascorbate
  • Calcium L-ascorbate
  • Potassium L-ascorbate
  • L-ascorbyl 6-palmitate
Sources of vitamin D
  • Cholecalciferol
  • Ergocalciferol
Sources of vitamin E
  • D alpha-tocopherol
  • DL-alpha-tocopherol
  • D-alpha-tocopherol acetate
  • DL-alpha-tocopherol acetate
  • D-alpha-tocopherol acid succinate
Source of vitamin K
  • Phylloquinone
Sources of minerals
  • Calcium carbonate
  • Calcium chloride
  • Calcium salts of citric acid
  • Calcium gluconate
  • Calcium glycerophosphate
  • Calcium lactate
  • Calcium slats of orthophosphoric acid
  • Calcium hydroxide
  • Calcium oxide
  • Cupric carbonate
  • Cupric citrate
  • Cupric gluconate
  • Cupric sulphate
  • Copper lysine complex
  • Chromium chloride
  • Chromium sulphate
  • Potassium fluoride
  • Sodium fluoride
  • Ferrous carbonate
  • Ferrous citrate
  • Ferric ammonium citrate
  • Ferrous fumarate
  • Ferric sodium diphosphate
  • 551W
  • Ferrous lactate
  • Ferrous sulphate
  • Ferric diphosphate
  • Ferric saccharate
  • Elemental iron
  • Potassium iodide
  • Potassium iodate
  • Sodium iodide
  • Sodium iodate
  • Magnesium acetate
  • Magnesium carbonate
  • Magnesium chloride
  • Magnesium salts of citric acid
  • Magnesium gluconate
  • Magnesium glycerophosphate
  • Magnesium salts of orthophosphoric acid
  • Magnesium lactate
  • Magnesium hydroxide Magnesium sulphate
  • Manganese carbonate
  • Manganese chloride
  • Manganese citrate
  • Manganese gluconate
  • Manganese glycerophosphate
  • Manganese sulphate
  • Ammonium molybdate
  • Sodium molybdate
  • Potassium bicarbonate
  • Potassium carbonate
  • Potassium chloride
  • Potassium citrate
  • Potassium gluconate
  • Potassium glycerophosphate
  • Potassium lactate
  • Potassium hydroxide
  • Potassium salts of orthophosphoric acid
  • Sodium bicarbonate
  • Sodium carbonate
  • Sodium chloride
  • Sodium citrate
  • Sodium gluconate
  • Sodium lactate
  • Sodium hydroxide
  • Sodium salts of orthophosphoric acid
  • Sodium selenate
  • Sodium hydrogen selenite
  • Sodium selenate
  • Zinc acetate
  • Zinc chloride
  • Zinc citrate
  • Zinc gluconate
  • Zinc lactate
  • Zinc oxide
  • Zinc carbonate
  • Zinc sulphate.

Boron, cobalt, nickel, silicon, tin and vanadium are used in products on the UK market, but are not include in annexe I of the Food Supplements Directive (common position adopted by the Council on 3 December 2001) and published in the Official Journal C 90 E/1 on 16 April 2002. The Government have not compiled a definitive list of the many nutrient sources used in UK products and not listed in annexe II of that directive.