§ Mr. HammondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health following the granting of leave by the High Court for a case against the Food Supplements Directive to be taken to the European Court of Justice, if he will press the Commission to attempt to achieve a political agreement that the European Food Safety Authority will only set maximum limits for permitted levels of nutrients in supplements on grounds of safety. [154109]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe Government awaits the outcome of the reference of the validity of the Food Supplements Directive to the European Court of Justice with interest. In the meantime, the United Kingdom will continue to argue for safety-based European Community regulation of food supplements. The UK Government's position continues to be that maximum limits should be set on the basis of safety and not unnecessarily limited by supposed nutritional need.