HC Deb 14 March 2003 vol 401 cc456-7W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he is making to the European Food Standards Agency about ingredients formerly used in foods in the UK but not included in the annexes of the Food Supplement Directive as available for use in the manufacture of food supplements. [102617]

Ms Blears

Lists of permitted vitamins and minerals and their sources in the Annexes to the Food Supplements Directive remain open pending safety assessments of additional substances by the European Union Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) or its successor in the European Food Safety Authority. The Food Standards Agency has written to the European Commission with the aim of facilitating a meeting between United Kingdom stakeholders and representatives of the SCF to discuss the technical content of such dossiers.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether he will propose an amendment to the EU Food Supplements Directive to permit the sale in the UK of products not listed in the Directive but recognised by the competent UK authorities as safe and which are already on the market in the UK; [102619]

(2) what (a) representations he has received from and (b) discussions he has held with the Food Standards Agency about the EU Food Directive; and if he will incorporate the Agency's views in proposals he makes for the revision of the Directive. [102618]

Ms Blears

The Government have no plans to seek an amendment to the European Union Food Supplements Directive. They have already secured provisions which enable member states to allow the continued sale of products which do not comply with the compositional requirements up to 31 December 2009, provided certain criteria are met.

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