11.01.01
After 18 months of difficult discussions, the member states of the European Union (EU) have agreed to a text for the proposed food supplements directive. One of the major causes of difference of opinion was the inclusion of the word “physiological” in the definition of a food supplement to cover ingredients that do not have a nutritional function. The food supplement industry, with the support of the European Parliament, the Commission and some member states, has been seeking to establish this link for some time—a position opposed by some other countries, including Belgium (currently holding the presidency of the EU) and sectors of the pharmaceutical industry.
The other main issue concerned the criteria for establishing maximum levels for vitamins and minerals. The Commission’s initial proposal was to take scientific risk analysis as the primary criterion, with reference intakes as a second criterion to be applied only in cases where the upper levels are close to those references. The maintenance of this hierarchy of criteria has been the most important objective of the European industry, the Commission and a number of EU member states—fiercely opposed throughout by some member states who take a much more restrictive, RDA-based view. The most important goal for the Belgian presidency has been to avoid challenging the hierarchy of the two principles, continuing to respect the safety principle as the main criterion to establish maximum levels.
The proposed directive now has to pass through European Parliament for a second time, most likely in January 2002. Then the Commission begins its work to define the precise maximum levels of vitamins and minerals permitted to be included. These decisions will be primarily based on the results of the review of the safety of vitamins and minerals, which is currently being carried out by the EU Scientific Committee for Food.
The other main issue concerned the criteria for establishing maximum levels for vitamins and minerals. The Commission’s initial proposal was to take scientific risk analysis as the primary criterion, with reference intakes as a second criterion to be applied only in cases where the upper levels are close to those references. The maintenance of this hierarchy of criteria has been the most important objective of the European industry, the Commission and a number of EU member states—fiercely opposed throughout by some member states who take a much more restrictive, RDA-based view. The most important goal for the Belgian presidency has been to avoid challenging the hierarchy of the two principles, continuing to respect the safety principle as the main criterion to establish maximum levels.
The proposed directive now has to pass through European Parliament for a second time, most likely in January 2002. Then the Commission begins its work to define the precise maximum levels of vitamins and minerals permitted to be included. These decisions will be primarily based on the results of the review of the safety of vitamins and minerals, which is currently being carried out by the EU Scientific Committee for Food.