Commission proposes European rules for food supplements containing vitamins and minerals, in context of its action for food safety

Brussels, 11/05/2000 (Agence Europe) - Despite its undertaking in favour of subsidiarity and the reduction in volume of Community legislation, the European Commission felt it necessary to propose harmonised rules for "food supplements" containing vitamins and minerals. It considers that the aim of food safety and the free movement of these goods in a single market require that all the Member States respect uniform rules, for three main reasons: a) product safety; b) the possibility of informed choice for the consumer; c) the banning of advert that attribute to supplements specific therapeutic properties. This is why its proposals foresees:

• a) Security rules foe vitamins and minerals, in a general norms framework;
• b) Labelling giving consumers clear and precise indications on daily doses, a warning about possible health risks in case of excess use and a detail description of the products content;
• c) Banning of all claims that the product can prevent, treat or cure illness. The pills sold in packaging that resembles those of pharmaceutical products should carry the statement: "This is not a medical product." Furthermore, the presentation, advertising, etc. should not suggest that a varied diet does not provide necessary amounts of essential nutrients.

The proposal includes a positive list of chemical substance authorised for the production of vitamins and minerals following their scientific assessment by the Scientific Committee for Food. It also foresees that maximum and minimum levels of vitamin and mineral content in the daily dose of food supplements will be set.

This proposal is part of the package of measures announced in the Commission's White Paper on food safety, adopted earlier this year. It is based on Article 95 and has to be agreed by the European Parliament and Council through the codecision procedure. It is intended to enter into force on 31 May 2002, allowing the marketing of products complying with the Directive as of June 2002 and prohibiting the marketing of products which do not respect its rules by June 2004 at the latest.

Mr. David Byrne, the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection thus commented on the initiative: "We must be clear that a varied diet remains the best solution for a healthy development and life. These food supplements mainly serve to compensate for inadequate intake of essential nutrients by certain people or specific population, or, for some, to increase their intake of such nutrients. Labels on these products must give consumers adequate and clear information about how to use and how not to use them. For those who find they require supplements, we must make sure that the chemical substances use dare safe and subject to independent scientific assessment. These principals of food safety and transparent information as outlined in the White Paper on Food Safety apply here as they do to all other food products."