95% of multi-vitamin and mineral preparations to be removed, US is next! (OT)

[Guest guest]

-

Bob Jones

Tuesday, March 12, 2002 9:49 PM

300 vitamin treaments face ban in Euro purge

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/graphics/2002/03/11/nvits11.gif

 

 

 

Wednesday 13 March 2002

Telegraph Network Network home Arts Books Business news Crossword Society

Education Family Fantasy football Fashion Gardening Horoscopes Health Jobs Law

reports Letters & Feedback Money Motoring News Obituaries Opinion Outdoors

Personal finance Promotions Property Science Shopping Sport Technology Travel

Weather Wine Business file Connected Global network Internet for schools Juiced

Matt cartoon Alex cartoon

 

 

telegraph.co.

 

300 vitamin treaments face ban in Euro purge

By Celia Hall Medical Editor

(Filed: 11/03/2002)

 

 

NINETY per cent of multi-vitamin and mineral preparations and many

other supplements are likely to be removed from the shelves of British health

shops and chemists if a European directive becomes law, as many expect it will,

on Wednesday.

 

 

Under a move to harmonise the sale of vitamin and mineral

supplements, lists have been drawn up of permissible supplements and their

sources which exclude more than 300 items available in Britain.

 

The supplements which will be affected are those offering dozens of

vitamins and minerals in one capsule.

 

Dr Caroline Jackson, Conservative MEP for the South West Region who

is fighting the proposals, said: " MEPs are receiving dozens of letters from

desperate people who believe their future health depends on being able to buy

these products.

 

" Many people believe these supplements are vital to them. This is

heavy-handed legislation which I believe should be withdrawn but all we may be

able to do is a damage limitation exercise. "

 

The only hope will be to get the provisions changed during the

lengthy committee process, to settle details, which will be held after the

directive is approved, she added.

 

Dr Jackson said the problem was that British laws governing the sale

of vitamin and mineral supplements were liberal - as they were in Holland and

Ireland - but very restrictive in countries like Germany.

 

The effect of harmonising the regulations will be to impose strict

German standards on UK sales. Sue Croft, of Consumers for Health Choice, a

European consumer lobby group, said many people with cancer and chronic disease

used supplements to maintain health.

 

" This is hugely upsetting to large numbers of people who will feel

absolutely bereft if they cannot get their supplements and who may suffer

psychological damage as result. "

 

Examples of supplements not on the list include the minerals, boron,

sulphur and vanadium, commonly used in multi supplements.

 

Boron is important for healthy teeth and bones, and found in

raisins, prunes and almonds; sulphur for acne and healthy skin and found in

cabbage, dried beans, and eggs. Vanadian deficiency is linked with bone

deformity. Naturally it is found in seafood, parsley, cereals and mushrooms.

 

Manufacturers will be able to make a case for supplements to be put

on the list if they can prove their efficacy and safety, but many small

companies do not have the resources for this kind of research trial.

 

Free Choice for Supplements Alliance, which represent makers, said

there were 1,300 independent health food retailers in Britain, many of them

unaware of the impending legislation.

 

In the UK, vitamin and mineral supplements are now a huge market

worth £376 million in 2001. Direct sales are estimated to add £60-£70 million to

this total.

 

25 November 2001: Sales slump as Britons lose faith in vitamin

pills

13 October 2001: The spread of blindness 'is reduced by

vitamins'

15 June 2001: Vitamin C is no help in the fight against cancer

16 May 2001: Vitamin jabs 'putting Halliwell in danger'