What action it intends to take to combat any detrimental impact of the EC Directive on food supplements on the provision of supplements, vi…

There is no specific disadvantage to UK manufacturers or their competitiveness compared with manufacturers from other member states. Implementation of the Directive will not immediately outlaw any products already on the UK market. The Executive intends to take advantage of Article 4 of the Directive which enables member states to allow, subject to criteria being met, the continued sale of products containing vitamin and mineral sources not yet on the permitted lists up until 31 December 2009. The Executive are committed to the view that, in the interests of consumer choice, the law should allow food supplements that are safe and properly labelled to be freely marketed.