§ Dr. IddonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether the Minister for Public Health has set a date for his proposed meeting with Commissioner Byrne to discuss the interpretation of Article 5 of the Food Supplements Directive;. [144870]
(2) if he will list the dates when he expects that Ministers from his Department will meet their counterparts in each of the Member and Candidate States of the European Union to discuss the interpretation of Article 5 of the Food Supplements Directive; which officials will accompany Ministers at each of those meetings; what main points he expects will be made; and if he will make a statement. [144871]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonArticle 5 of the Food Supplements Directive lays out a framework for the future setting of maximum permitted levels of vitamins and minerals in food supplements, The European Commission has not yet made a proposal listing European Union maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements and we do not expect it to do so for another two to three years.
The United Kingdom continues to take every opportunity to press its view that maximum levels should be set on a safety basis. I am seeking to arrange a discussion with Commissioner Byrne at the earliest practical opportunity.