The BDA welcomes the decision made on Tuesday 12 July on the EU directive on supplements by the European Court of Justice. The decision allows a moving on of the debate about supplement control, and supports consistency and clarity in the formulation of vitamin and mineral supplements.

Concerns that consumers will no longer have access to a wide range of products to support particular nutritional concerns individuals may have, are exaggerated. The directive lists 112 chemical forms of the 20 or so vitamins and mineral known to have nutritional functions in the body. Many of the major and the own-label products sold in the UK have already been reformulated to exclude chemical forms not listed on the ‘positive list’. Moreover, UK manufacturers have had the option to submit a statement of safe use (dossier) to the Food Standards Agency, for particular ingredients not listed in the directive. Possible extension of the use of many of these vitamin and mineral forms will be until the end of December 2009, so there is ample time for most manufacturers to implement reformulation decisions.

Most vitamin and mineral supplements currently on the shelf will not need to be removed or changed as a result of this directive. In practice, consumers are not likely to notice changes to the wide variety of products currently available. Future issues yet to be defined within legislation concern dosage levels, and dietitians support decisions based on the scientific assessments of safety, such as those carried out by the UK Expert Committee on Vitamins and Minerals.

Dietitians support the ready availability and appropriate use of supplements in particular defined situations, or in particular risk groups within the population. For most people, for most of the time, nutrient requirements for good health can be fully provided with the variety of foods described as ‘a balanced diet’.