France abolishes maximum levels for some vitamins
French supplement firms had protested the limits as being unnecessary on safety grounds and French authorities agreed in abolishing them recently, although the French supplements group Synadiet suggested companies should still consider the MPLs in formulations.
The levels include:
- Vitamin K: 25µg
- Vitamin B1: 4.2mg
- Vitamin B2: 4.8mg
- Vitamin B5: 18mg
- Vitamin B8: 450mg
- Vitamin B12: 3µg.
Products were now free to use, “dosesthey wantof these vitaminsin the French market” Synadiet noted but warned: “We canonly encourage you to use a maximum ofcaution.”
“Wesuggest youstay in the range originally plannedby the administration, sensitiveto the precautionary principle,” the group said in a missive to its members.
“This is particularly thecase of vitaminK,for whichwe recommendthe utmost vigilance,” it added. “Indeed,this vitamin can interact withanti-coagulants. It would be appropriate and wise to remind consumers of the possible interaction of vitamin K with the treatments in question.”
The European Federation of Associations of Health Product Manufacturers (EHPM) said the move offered greater formulation flexibility.
“Since the levels are removed because there is not a safety issue, manufacturers will have to assess if and how they would use the opportunity for develop higher level products that has now been made possible for these nutrients,” a spokesperson told this publication.
“EHPM clearly welcomes the principle that where no safety concerns have been identified, there is no justifiable grounds for legal restrictions.”
