Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 212: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she has requested input from the professionally trained nutritional therapists and dieticians on the implementation of the food supplements directive (2002/46/EC); and if she will make a statement on her policy on the role of food supplements in preventative health care here. [22468/09]

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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The Food Supplements Directive, 2002/46/EC, has been transposed into Irish law by Statutory Instrument No. 506 of 2007. The principle behind the legislation is to ensure 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. The Directive also makes 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 legislation is implemented by the Health Service Executive, under a Service Contract Agreement with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI). I am informed that the Division with responsibility for Food Supplements within the FSAI is staffed with personnel who are qualified dieticians, registered nutritionists and a medical doctor. The FSAI provide any necessary professional nutritional and dietary advice to my Department.

Based on advice and information received from the FSAI, I am fully aware of the preventative health care benefits of food supplements containing vitamins and minerals taken at recommended levels in terms of helping people at risk of dietary inadequacy. However, I am also advised that they should not be used to compensate for a poor diet. My Department is committed to ensuring that all supplements on sale in Ireland are safe in terms of the amount of vitamins and minerals they provide and this informs our approach to ongoing discussions in Europe to agree maximum and minimum levels of vitamins and minerals in food supplements.