FOOD SUPPLEMENTS DIRECTIVE

That this House notes that the forthcoming implementation of Article 5 of the Food Supplements Directive continues to pose a threat to the continued availability of many safe and popular higher potency vitamin and mineral supplements in the United Kingdom; welcomes the stated objectives of successive Ministers and Prime Minister of the outcome of this process; is alarmed that to date there is little evidence of European member states or the European Commission being willing to adopt a sensible, pragmatic and proportionate approach to the setting of maximum permitted levels for nutrients in supplements; and calls upon the Government to redouble its efforts in Europe to achieve a satisfactory regime for the regulation of such products in the interests of the millions of consumers who choose to use them to help achieve and maintain good health and of the hundreds of specialist retailers who rely upon them for the success of their businesses.