The Latest News from Westminister
All CHC Directors are extremely concerned after last week’s media announcement regarding the appointment of Lord Jeffrey Rooker as the new Chair of the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
We already know that Rooker has, in the past, shown little sympathy for supplement users – a crucial issue at the moment with draconian EU legislation fast approaching. It was CHC who forced the Labour peer into a humiliating U-turn in 1998 when he tried to ban the free sale of higher dose Vitamin B6 – and campaigners fear that he could now be handed the complete supplements portfolio.
Rooker’s actions led to the biggest single revolt ever seen in the natural healthcare sector; CHC collected more than 1 million petition signatures which were laid on the floor of the House and initiated a major Select Committee enquire which kicked the proposal into the long grass. The committee found that arguments were flawed, prompting the climb-down and resignation of the prominent Professor Woods who advised Rooker. The attitude of Jeff Rooker towards supplements and the industry, and his disregard for millions of regular supplement users has never changed.
We now fear that Rooker may carry his bias into the FSA which has a key role to play in negotiations with the EU Commission in shaping the legislation for supplements. As things stand, doses of all vitamins and all minerals could be reduced to meaningless amounts to appease countries such as France and Germany who wish to control the market – and we are not at all certain that Rooker will be prepared to fight for consumer interests in Brussels.
But with or without his help, our role is to fight for consumer choice – and that we will continue to do. There is just a chance that despite our differences in the past, Lord Rooker will now put all his weight behind implementing the governments own stated position set down under Tony Blair to keep supplements available – we really do hope so. Also, Lord Rooker, who has previously been exposed to consumer outrage, may decide that the Government does not need the resultant furore in the run-up to a general election.”
The Situation in Brussels
It’s not good. There has been no softening of attitudes since we last wrote to you – and the official view of EU regulators remains that the destruction of the British industry is an acceptable price to pay for harmonizing the market across all Member Stares. That is a big hurdle for us to overcome – but we will find a way.
It is certainly true that our campaign earlier this year to raise the alarm on this issue, and others, certainly delayed the Commission from pushing forward with unnecessarily restrictive levels, and it now seems the figures on dose levels will be delayed even further until after the (re-run) Referendum in Ireland in September. EU certainly does not want to offend Irish voters at this time! Some ‘insiders’ say, we are unlikely to see the proposed dose levels until the New Year – but that has not been confirmed to us.
We still have everything to fight for when the new Commissioner dealing with this legislation is appointed after the summer recess – but in the meantime we absolutely must keep up the pressure so that the campaign does not lose momentum. Immediately, we must positively influence the President of the European Commission – and exert as much pressure as possible in Europe while deliberations on dose levels continue – and here in the UK in the run up to the next General Election.
The Save-our-Supplements Campaign ~ more letters needed
This is where we again ask for your help. Our supporters in Britain and across Europe have always been amazingly positive and helpful – so here is what we are now asking you to do – and why.
MORE LETTERS PLEASE, the more the better. This time, to the President of the European Commission.
As before, our target is José Manuel Barroso, who we know is already sensitive to this issue. He is about the only consistent person in the Commission right now; everyone else seems to be changing places.
Whichever Member State you are based in, you can make a real difference to the outcome of the process of setting maximum permitted dose levels for all vitamins and all minerals in dietary supplements.
Whether you are a consumer (like me) or a manufacturer, a retailer or a practitioner YOUR VIEWS COUNT. Your voice can still be heard and can influence the European Commission’s proposed levels.
Please help us to promote consumer choice – please help us to keep higher potency food supplements available throughout the European Union.
Your letter needs to contain some of the following points:-
- Why you take vitamin & mineral supplements – yourself, your family
- That the Food Supplements Directive is an opportunity to open up the market and allow greater freedom of choice to all supplement users across all Member States
- Nutrient doses should be set as high as possible in accordance with the levels that good science supports as safe
- If unnecessarily low dose levels are set, consumer choice will be restricted, public health could be undermined, and your local health food store may close.
Your letter must go to:-
José Manuel Barroso
President of the European Commission
1049 Brussels
BELGIUM
or through this link:
http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/president/contact/mail/index_en.htm
Please remember that your letter can make any additional points – but it is important to be polite and courteous.
Thank you
For more information and for a suggested draft letter, please use this link and click your National flag
http://www.consumersforhealthchoice.com/index.php?option
More YOU can do
Thank you
Only the ‘consumer voice’ can now save the day.
Contact: Sue Croft, Director, letsliveSC@hotmail.co.uk
Consumers for Health Choice, 2 Oakland Close, Chulmleigh, Devon, EX18 7AU
Tel: 01769 581612 www.consumersforhealthchoice.com
|
