Thousands of vitamin products threatened by ruling

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http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health_medical/article298799.ece

 

Thousands of vitamin products threatened by ruling

By Jeremy Laurance, Health Editor

Published: 13 July 2005

 

 

 

Campaigners for Britain's millions of vitamin and supplement users

have reacted with dismay to a ruling that could sweep up to 5,000

products off the shelves.

 

The European Court of Justice has rejected British health food

industry claims that the proposed Food Supplements Directive, coming

into force on 1 August, breaches EU rules. Yesterday's decision means

some 300 nutrients and nutrient sources in the UK will be banned

unless they can obtain inclusion on a " positive " list - a move that

supplement manufacturers say requires excessive levels of testing and

red tape.

 

Among the vitamins and supplements facing a ban are boron, important

for healthy teeth and bones; sulphur, important for healthy skin; and

1,000mg Vitamin C tablets. The surprise decision of the European Court

goes against an opinion delivered by the same court's advocate-general

in April, who said the directive was " as transparent as a black box " .

 

British ministers came under pressure yesterday to negotiate an

opt-out from the directive. Opposition parties attacked the Government

for failing to defend British consumers' interests, saying the

decision was a defeat for common sense and an " unwarranted intrusion

by the EU into people's lives " .

 

Simon Burns, a Tory health spokesman, said: " The ruling is a

devastating blow for thousands of people who regularly use food

supplements and vitamins. It is an absolute disgrace that the

Government signed up to the directive in the first place. Now that the

UK holds the EU presidency, it is imperative that the Prime Minister

intervenes swiftly to secure a British opt-out. "

 

Steve Webb, the Liberal Democrat health spokesman, said: " There is no

reason why governments should not be able to allow their own consumers

to use products which do not have Europe-wide approval. "

 

The consumer organisation Which? defended the decision. Sue Davies,

its chief policy adviser, said: " It'll ensure products are safe, that

they contain forms of vitamins and minerals that offer some benefit,

and that they are clearly labelled. "

 

Caroline Flint, the Public Health minister, said the safety of food

supplements had to be balanced against the need to support consumer

choice and that " flexibility " should be built into the system. But she

added: " We are concerned that some of the provisions in the directive

could be unduly burdensome. "

 

Jenny Seagrove, the actress, who has campaigned against the directive,

said: " It is shocking news. This is aboutmoney. The opinion of the

advocate general, who was scathing about the directive, and Blair, who criticised it, and 300 doctors and scientists and one

million people who signed a petition against it can't all be wrong. I

wonder what happened with the 12 men in the European Court of Justice

and what pressures they were under. "