New Petitions

Petition PE738, from Joanna Blythman and others, calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Executive to ensure that the voices of consumers of vitamin and mineral supplements are heard as the European Commission prepares to set maximum permitted levels as part of the food supplements directive and to consider all options, including a derogation, that would allow Scottish consumers access to the vitamin and mineral potencies currently available. Under the directive, the Commission has the power to amend the list of vitamins and minerals and set the minimum and maximum amounts that must appear on the label as recommended for daily consumption. Scottish ministers have powers to implement the instrument to be made by the Commission within two to three years and, in exercise of those powers, could seek a derogation from the Commission's directive.When one of the petitioners previously petitioned the Parliament on this matter in December 2002, the petition was referred to the European and External Relations Committee, which published its "Report on Food Supplements and Traditional Herbal Medicine (A Report into Petition 584 by Mr Douglas Robison)" in March 2003.In the Executive's response to the report, Malcolm Chisholm stated:"I am firmly 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."He went on to say:"I will continue to press the case for maximum levels to be set according to the best scientific evidence."Do members have any comments? Perhaps we could seek an update on the situation.

I was interested in this issue when the previous petition was submitted and I know that there has been a members' business debate on the matter. It would be useful if we could get an update on the European and External Affairs Committee's report on PE584. We should ask the Executive how it intends to go about consulting on and researching the subject of what the maximum permitted levels should be before it publishes its own statutory instruments. As a matter of courtesy, we should send a copy of this petition to the European and External Relations Committee.

Are members happy with that suggestion?Members indicated agreement.