Vol. 501 No. 1
141 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children his policy in relation to introducing legislation to restrict the sale of vitamins and health supplements as is being proposed in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5375/99]
I have no proposals at this time to introduce any new legislation in relation to vitamins and health supplements.
Vitamins and health supplements may be classified as either foodstuffs or as medicinal products depending on the precise nature of the individual product and its intended use. Products clearly intended for use as food supplements are subject to the regulatory controls as apply to foods generally. On the other hand, those products which have a medicinal or therapeutic use or which are presented in therapeutic dosage levels would be considered medicinal products and, therefore, be subject to the controls as set out in the Medicinal Products (Licensing and Sale) Regulations, 1998.
