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  Consumers for Health Choice
Events Update and Action for Consumers
7 February 2008

EUROPE JOINING CHC CAMPAIGN TO KEEP HIGHER DOSE LEVELS

We still have a strong chance of keeping the thousands of specialist, higher dose vitamin and mineral supplements that remain under threat - the involvement of independent individuals and businesses used by Solgar Vitamins around Europe means we have activities taking place in at least a dozen Member States, demonstrating beyond doubt that this is certainly not just a British issue. Not only have thousands of letters in many different languages been received by Brussels in support of specialist nutrients, meetings have also taken place across Europe with Competent Authorities (equivalent to our Food Standards Agency) - and even more names have been added to our On-Line Petition.

While Britain has taken the lead in insisting that higher dose nutrients remain available, we now have help. Deadlines are fast approaching - we expect to learn in the next few weeks what dose levels are being proposed - with all the regulations firmly in place by 31st January 2009.

That is just for permitted dose levels; we still have no idea which nutrients/nutrient sources will be allowed. You may remember that the 'List' attached to the Food Supplements Directive was totally inadequate and certainly made no attempt to reflect the existing British market, but some manufacturers spent huge sums of money in producing safety dossiers in order to secure a place on the 'List' for important nutrients - yet the EU seems unlikely to have time or resources to examine these dossiers before the deadline - and we have no idea what they will do then!

Following our recent highly successful meeting in Brussels between CHC and the Deputy Director General of DG SANCO, Ms Testori Coggi - an occasion for high level discussions on the setting of Maximum Permitted Levels, we remain totally focused and determined. We must now ask you once again to write even more letters to the Commission - copying your letters to MPs and MEPs - and in turn, encouraging MPs and MEPs to also exert as much pressure as possible on the Commission and the 27 Member State Governments to secure a positive conclusion. We will shortly be updating our multi-lingual on-line toolkits to help you do this.

NEW PLANS FOR 2008 / 2009

As you would expect, we never stand still! Discussions are now taking place to make our campaign 'Burst into Flames' in the coming months - not just here in the UK, but across Europe. Using our multi-lingual advertisements, we will elevate the profile of our activities to a new level, encouraging even more consumers across Member States to get involved.

You can expect even more intensive lobbying in Brussels, more open letters published as advertisements in EU publications including European Voice, National advertising in UK, a Postcard campaign across Member States and a Postcard campaign in UK co-ordinated through health food stores.

Our active celebrities will all be working hard - nobody will be able to claim they haven't got the message!

PETITION NOW ON-LINE ~ HAVE YOU SIGNED YET?

Please remember how important it is for you to add YOUR signature to our Petition. It will only take a few minutes of your time. Go to www.consumersforhealthchoice.com/petition and help us make a difference.

The numbers continue to increase but more are always needed. The Petition is directed to the European Commission and the Governments of the Member States of the European Union. Adding your signature will only take a few moments but could make a considerable difference to the outcome of the Save Our Supplements campaign.

The petition is of crucial importance because it supports the advertisements we place in the national press - and helps remind Gordon Brown and his ministers, particularly the Health Minister Dawn Primarolo, of the problems with the Food Supplements Directive and the actions they need to take.

Further Information: If you have questions on this Report to Consumers, please contact:
Sue Croft, Director, Consumers for Health Choice, 105 Southbank House, Black Prince Road, London, SE1 7SJ Email: sue.croft@healthchoice.org.uk



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