Guest guest Posted July 6, 2005 Report Share Posted July 6, 2005 From http://www.mercola.com/blog/2005/jul/5/flawed_codex_guidelines_passed See the link above to get more clickable links. By Dr. Mercola I'm sad to report, despite some superficial changes and the last-minute efforts of some consumer groups, global standards for vitamin and mineral supplements -- *debated for more than a decade* -- were unfortunately adopted as expected by the Codex Alimentarius in Rome yesterday (http://www.naturalnewswire.com/2005/07/codex_supplemen.html <http://www.mercola.com/blog/2005/jul/5/flawed_codex_guidelines_passed/http$3A$2\ F$2Fwww.naturalnewswire.com$2F2005$2F07$2Fcodex_supplemen.html>). Even worse, these guidelines will now serve as a model for many countries that do not currently have supplement regulations in place and may be used under World Trade Organization agreements *to force countries to allow the importation and sale of products that conform to those guidelines*. The effect of these new rules is very bad news to Americans and many other people, considering some 60 countries -- *including more than half of the world's population* -- are currently looking at introducing new or amended regulations for vitamin and mineral supplements. Of the greatest concern in these new guidelines is a new ceiling on the maximum level of vitamins or minerals based on a *scientific risk assessment* rather than recommended dietary intake, better known as *RDA*, that result in significantly lower amounts than those based on risk assessment. Opponents of these measures strongly believe these guidelines will force vitamins and minerals offered in higher dosages *to be classified and regulated as drugs*. Dr. Robert Verkerk, executive director of the Alliance for Natural Health, really nailed my objections to Codex: It appears that the Codex guidelines for food supplements include faulty procedures that *contradict Codex's own rules*, as pointed out by the U.S.-based National Health Federation, itself a Codex participant. We have also demonstrated that the risk assessment system being considered by Codex *is scientifically flawed*... Of course, you know there was one group who was *extremely happy about the passage of these regulations*: The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), a Washington, D.C.-based trade association/lobbying group representing dietary supplement industry ingredient suppliers and manufacturers. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is expected to produce a report in a few months on its risk assessment methodology, *but it will be several years before this is adopted*. That could very well mean there's still some time to have Codex reconsider these measures. And, besides, *do you want to let foreign interests dictate what you can do with your body*? And, if you're not sure why people like me are gravely concerned about this issue and want to get your blood boiling even more, you'll want to watch the documentary " We Become " Silent, " <http://www.mercola.com/blog/2005/jul/5/flawed_codex_guidelines_passed/http$3A$2\ F$2Fwww.alliance-natural-health.org$2F> produced by International award-winning filmmaker, Kevin P. Miller in an attempt to raise public awareness about these misinformed guidelines. I believe Americans must *never lose the right to choose and buy supplements*. If you agree with this - and if you read my eHealthy news You Can Use newsletter regularly *I'm sure you do* -- I urge you to take a little time to let Congress know how you feel, by sending the letter provided by the Health Action Center <http://www.mercola.com/blog/2005/jul/5/flawed_codex_guidelines_passed/http$3A$2\ F$2Fwww.healthactioncenter.org$2Faction$2Findex.asp$3Fstep$3D2$26item$3D26659>. Food Navigator.com July 5, 2005 <http://www.mercola.com/blog/2005/jul/5/flawed_codex_guidelines_passed/http$3A$2\ F$2Fwww.foodnavigator.com$2Fnews$2Fnews-ng.asp$3Fn$3D61079-codex-adopts-internat\ ional> NPI Center July 5, 2005 <http://www.mercola.com/blog/2005/jul/5/flawed_codex_guidelines_passed/http$3A$2\ F$2Fwww.npicenter.com$2Fanm$2Ftemplates$2FnewsATemp.aspx$3Farticleid$3D12887$26z\ oneid$3D2> Natural Newswire July 5, 2005 <http://www.mercola.com/blog/2005/jul/5/flawed_codex_guidelines_passed/http$3A$2\ F$2Fwww.naturalnewswire.com$2F2005$2F07$2Fcodex_supplemen.html> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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