FSA seeks views on food supplement amendments

These sources are currently permitted for use in food supplements in England under a legislative provision that is due to expire on 31 December. Government intervention is now needed to allow for their continued use.

European Food Supplements Directive​

The background to this requirement is that a European Commission Regulation has been drafted to amend the European Food Supplements Directive 2002/46/EC to permit the vitamin and mineral sources. This came on the back of favourable safety assessments from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

But for European amendments of this kind to be implemented, national regulations are needed.

FSA is therefore seeking views from industry, enforcement agencies, nutrition professionals and consumers on whether to go ahead and process the necessary changes.

It recommends that stakeholders back the proposal and warns that to do otherwise would limit consumer choice and expose the UK to the possibility of infraction proceedings by the European Commission.

The deadline for submissions is 9 November.

Implementing future changes automatically​

The FSA is also looking to amend national legislation in England to give automatic effect to any future changes to Directive 2002/46/EC that relate to vitamins, minerals and their sources permitted for use in food supplements.

The preferred course of action, according to the FSA, is to give automatic effect to such amendments in order to enable industry to make new ingredients available to the food supplements industry in England as soon as legislative changes come into force at a European level.