HC Deb 28 May 2004 vol 422 cc37-8W
Bob Spink

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on(a)the Food Supplements Directive and (b)the maximum permitted levels in food supplements; and if he will make a statement. [169747]

Miss Melanie Johnson

In October 2003, I met representatives of the health food industry, at their request, to discuss their concerns over the potential impact of the Food Supplements Directive, particularly relating to the submission of safety dossiers to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and to the future setting of European maximum levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements

In addition, I have received letters about the directive from hon. and right hon. Members on behalf of constituents, as well as letters from industry representatives.

Since last October there was a constructive meeting, facilitated by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), between industry representatives and representatives of the EFSA to discuss safety dossiers. In addition, I have recently set out the Government's views on the setting of maximum limits to European Commissioner David Byrne.

I have stated my willingness to meet food supplement industry representatives again. However, I have suggested that before such a meeting it would be useful for industry technical advisers to Feet FSA officials to discuss detailed technical issues relating to dossiers and then for the industry to gain experience of submitting such dossiers to EFSA. In addition, I have asked that industry submits the information, requested by the FSA on my behalf last July, relating to products containing vitamins and minerals and their sources currently missing from the lists of permitted substances in the directive.