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Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

Answer

Mr. Hayes: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what guidance he has given to the Ad Hoc Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals on the conclusion of the Agriculture Committee's Fifth report of Session 1997-98 (HC 753) on Vitamin B6 that the Group should be asked to produce recommendations for a framework for deciding whether regulation of dietary supplements is necessary at all. [80623] Mr. Rooker: [holding answer 13 April 1999]: Members of the Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals are aware of the conclusions and recommendations of the Agriculture Select Committee's report on Vitamin B6. They are also aware of the Government's response to the Select Committee's recommendation that the Group should be asked to produce recommendations for a framework for deciding whether regulation of dietary supplement is necessary at all. This states that: "The Government considers that [the Expert Group's] terms of reference do not place the Expert Group under any obligation to establish principles that would result in limits on the level of all vitamins and minerals in supplements sold under food law. It is for the Food Advisory Committee or, if it is established by the time the Group reports, the Food Standards Agency, to consider whether, in the light of the scientific evidence provided by the Expert Group, changes to the regulation of dietary supplements or their labelling should be recommended to Government".

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

80623; 329 c294W

Session

1998-99

Subjects

Dietary supplements Food Standards Agency Regulation Vitamin B6 Food Advisory Committee Vitamins and Minerals Expert Group