There was general consensus on a number of points including the principles for risk management, the need for a case-by-case approach based on the safety of nutrients, and the need to ensure consumer choice.
The European Commission indicated that it has no intention of restricting vitamin and mineral levels where there is no safety concern and said that all input from stakeholders will be carefully considered.
“We have come a long way since the issue of food supplements was first addressed in 1989, and I am positive that we are now very close to agreement on setting the final piece of the puzzle for vitamins and minerals,” said Peter van Doorn, chairman of EHPM.
A key area of debate involved a report on the feedback from the recent Commission Discussion paper, which highlighted a broad consensus by interested stakeholders on some of the key questions raised by the commission. Further discussion, however, would be needed on certain specific nutrients as well as on the harmonization of scientific input and further data intake collection. Other issues included how to address remaining scientific uncertainties in setting levels and the legal requirements from the EU and World Trade Organization (WTO) obligations that member states and the commission will have to follow.
It’s reported that the commission will issue its proposal on EU vitamin and mineral levels by the end of 2007.
