Vol. 527 No. 5
46 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the concerns expressed by the Irish Association of Health Stores regarding a proposed EU directive which would limit vitamin and mineral supplements available to the public; his views on the proposed directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28928/00]
In fulfilment of a commitment in the EU White Paper on food safety, the European Commission published a draft directive on the approximation of the laws relating to food supplements in May 2000. There is a wide range of nutrients and other ingredients that might be present in food supplements, including, but not limited to, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, essential fatty acids, fibre and various plant and herbal extracts. As a first stage, the draft directive currently under discussion only deals with food supplements containing vitamins and minerals.
To date, there have been four meetings of the EU working party of experts to discuss this draft directive. Officials from my Department, the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland have attended these meetings.
In developing a national position on this draft directive, my Department has met the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, the Irish Medicines Board and industry representatives, including the Irish Association of Health Stores. My Department has taken careful note of that association's views relating to the draft directive.
I welcome this initiative for a legislative framework on food supplements and consider that the proposal is an overall balanced approach. There are still some issues in the draft directive that need to be resolved at European level and I look forward to the outcome of these discussions with interest.
