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Controversial new European laws which could outlaw thousands of vitamin and mineral
supplements were upheld by European Court judgesy.
The European Court of Justice rejected British health food industry claims
that the proposed Food Supplements Directive, coming into force on August 1,
breaches EU rules.
The surprise decision goes against an opinion delivered by the same court's
advocate-general in April, advising that the rules should be scrapped because
they contravene basic EU principles of "legal protection, legal certainty
and sound administration".
The judges countered that the proposed arrangements, designed to tighten controls
on the growing market in products sold under the health food heading, can go
ahead as planned.
Health food companies have to submit natural remedies, vitamin supplements
and mineral plant extracts - many of them in long-established regular use in
a £300 million-a-year market in the UK - for approval and inclusion on
a list of recognised food supplements.
The judges backed the move saying: "A 'positive list' system is appropriate
for securing the free movement of food supplements and ensuring the protection
of human health."
