Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 324: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she has had discussions at EU level regarding the prospect that the EU Commission Health and Consumer Protection Directorate General will set maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements; if she has assessed the way such regulations would affect the health food retail sector here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1055/09]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 375: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she has had discussions at EU level regarding the prospect that the EU Commission Health and Consumer Protection Directorate General will set maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements; if she has assessed the way such regulations would affect this State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1054/09]

Mary Wallace (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 324 and 375 together.

The Food Supplements Directive, 2002/46/EC, has been transposed into Irish law by Statutory Instrument No. 506 of 2007. That legislation is implemented by the Health Service Executive, under a Service Contract Agreement with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI). This ensures that consumers in Ireland are protected by the harmonised EU rules on the sale of food supplements, in particular the labelling of food supplements and chemical form of vitamins and minerals they contain. One of the objectives of the Food Supplements Directive (2002/46/EC) was to make provision for the European Commission to determine maximum and minimum levels of vitamins and minerals in food supplements. This matter remains under consideration at European Commission level.

The European Commission published a Discussion Paper on determining maximum and minimum levels of vitamins and minerals in June 2006. The Irish response to this Discussion Paper gave Ireland's view that the Commission should proceed on a cautious basis, setting maximum limits for as many vitamins and minerals as possible. It was considered vital that the safety of the general population and the needs of particular subgroups such as pregnant women, children, older people and those on various specialist diets be taken into account in formulating the position on this issue.

Officials from both my Department and the FSAI are involved in ongoing discussions at European level on the development of a methodology under which maximum safe levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements will be set. Those discussions will permit the European Commission and Member States to further develop its thinking on this issue.

While the Irish position remains one of precaution for the reasons set out above, we will take account of Irish consumers' views and those of industry in adopting a position during those discussions. Our final position will be based on the above and on the scientific evidence presented to Member States during the discussions.