14 August 2014. Members of the public could be denied access to high potency vitamin and mineral supplements by a lack of awareness of the products’ importance amongst new Members of European Parliament, according to consumer rights organisation Consumers for Health Choice.
The grassroots consumer body has warned that a turnover of more than half of the EU Parliament in May elections could reduce access to supplements if new MEPs consider damaging arguments in favour of the harmonisation of supplements. Figures previously obtained by CHC suggest that there is a push for exceedingly low harmonised maximum permitted levels in vitamin and mineral supplements, boosting the profit margin of big multinational supplement firms at the cost of consumer choice.
CHC, which has more than a quarter of a million supporters, has urged consumers to demand that their MEPs are briefed on the importance of the availability of high potency vitamin and mineral supplements, and how harmonisation will benefit global corporations while driving up prices and restricting choice for consumers.
Michael Peet, Chair of Consumers for Health Choice said:
“Over half of the incoming European parliament are new and it’s important that new MEPs understand that harmonising vitamin and mineral supplements will benefit big business but would mean that hundreds of perfectly safe products disappear from shop shelves. We hope that MEPs will see the need to learn about this topic, but we urge consumers to demand that their representatives are being properly briefed so as not to fall for the flawed arguments of big business.”
Chris Whitehouse, Director of Strategy for Consumers for Health Choice said:
“Consumers now have the chance to ensure that their MEP is well-informed enough to resist the lines of slick corporate lobbyists such as Food Supplements Europe. Time is of the essence here –politics resumes in Brussels in earnest in September, and if the public acts before then they have taken a great step towards preserving their choice in safe, higher-potency vitamin and mineral supplements.”
Consumers for Health Choice has published a briefing for members of the public, telling them how they can communicate their concerns to their MEP. The briefing is available at https://www.consumersforhealthchoice.com/news/2014/08/take-action-now/
