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THE IMPACT OF THE FOOD
SUPPLEMENTS DIRECTIVE
TAKE ACTION NOW!
You may already be aware that the threat posed by
the
Food Supplements Directive for setting maximum
levels
for vitamins and minerals in food supplements,
could have
a devastating effect on the industry and not only those who choose
to use effective nutritional supplements but also those who
are against the erosion of personal choice generally.
The
Health Food Manufacturers' Association
(HFMA) has recently produced an Impact
Assessment
which quantifies the potential impact of the
proposed
legislation and identifies the following key
risks:
- Well over £100m of sales
may be lost
- Heavy impact on suppliers resulting in
business closures
- NAHS survey estimates that
over 700 independent
health food stores could close resulting in
approximately 4000 job losses
- Imports of higher potency supplements notably
from
Guernsey and Jersey that remain outside UK and EU
medicines and food legislative regimes will
increase
from their current levels significantly. This would
expose
UK consumers to the dangers of unregulated supply
As a result of this the HFMA is calling for the
following
outcomes in Europe:
- The highest possible permitted levels for
vitamins and
minerals to be set in Europe on the basis of
safety
- Provision of appropriate information to
consumers
- A further review by the European Food Safety
Authority
of the safe levels for selected nutrients to take
account
of major new scientific studies.
MPs can be a powerful resource for putting
pressure on
Gillian Merron MR the Public Health Minister,
to
ensure
that she stands up for British industry in Europe.
They
can also raise the issue with John Dalli, the new
European Commissioner, and their colleagues in the
European Parliament.
WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT ?
Please write to your local MP!
We need to ensure that all MPs are made aware of
the
potential threat posed by the Food Supplements
Directive
and so we are asking you to help by writing to
your local
constituency MP setting out your concerns and
encouraging them to raise the issue and take
action on
behalf of the British industry.
You can find your local MP by visiting
http://www.theyworkforyou.com
and entering
your
postcode, or by calling the House of Commons
information line on 0207 219 4272.
To help you, a
draft
letter is available for download at
www.hfma.co.uk/information-for-members.asp
We very much hope you will take the opportunity to
join us in taking action.
Thank you.
Regards
Vanderbell Health |
