Select Committee on Agriculture Minutes of Evidence


Supplementary memorandum submitted by the Health Food Manufacturers' Association (E51)

  Thank you and your colleagues for giving us the opportunity to provide evidence on the various issues surrounding the sale and science of Vitamin B6. One interesting point that seemed to be emerging from Jeff Rooker's responses is that he has no confidence that MCA will give licences to B6 products containing more than 49 mg, let alone to the combination products which include such levels along with other nutrients and even herbs. I will check the situation out with MCA [See Annex I].

  We are preparing, as you requested, a dossier of labels, promotional and training material about B6 and realise the urgency with which it is required.

  I fear that Jeff Rooker was simply not accurate in his remarks about this Association declining to consider label warnings. We were never asked. He did ask us to consider a voluntary limitation of 10 mg. We did turn that down. I have written to the Minister about this and a copy is enclosed [Annex 2]. A MAFF official confirmed these facts after the meeting.

  I assume that the dossier from Professor Woods refuting the American conclusions of some of the most eminent scientists in the world is now in the public domain. I am copying this to your Committee office in the hope that you will agree to our having a copy so that we can ask the Americans to respond.

  Please do not hesitate to come back to me if there is any way in which we can assist the deliberations of your Committee.

20 May 1998


 
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