EU vitamins legislation will be bad for firm’s health
Greg Knight MP visit to Bee Health Limited - pictured with the company's Managing Director Steve Ryan, - Bee Health Limited - Lancaster Road, Carnaby Industrial Estate, Bridlington, East Yorkshire, YO15 3QY,
GREG Knight has spoken in support of a businessman campaigning to prevent new European legislation which could have a detrimental effect on his company.
Steve Ryan, managing director of the Bee Health health supplements company in the Carnaby Industrial Estate is calling for the legislation, which would restrict the amount of vitamins put into healthcare supplements, to be halted.
Bee Health manufactures a range of healthcare products, including vitamins and tablets, and employs 85 people.
Mr Ryan said: “The European Parliament want vitamin tablets throughout Europe to have the same amount of vitamins in which is a very low level – basically a tenth of what there should be.
“Our argument is that people should have a free choice about what they want to take.
“It will have a devastating effect on the company. People will stop taking vitamins because there won’t be any benefit to them.
“It is taking the choice away from the consumers.
“The problem is if we do this it will all go underground and it will become totally unregulated.”
Mr Knight, MP for East Yorkshire said: “I think Mr Ryan is right that it is not an area where we should be legislating.
“I have seen no evidence that vitamin pills are at risk to health even if taken in relatively high levels – the body just doesn’t absorb them.
“I have spoken to the Health Minister Anna Soubry and she is making representations to the European Health Commissioner.
“We can well do without unnecessary red tape and if there is no problem we do not need extra precautions.”
A campaign group, Consumers for Health Choice, have launched a project called Save Our Supplements to try and prevent vitamins, minerals and herbal products from being wiped from the shelves of UK stores by new European legislation.
The European Union Foods Supplements Directive is calling for lower Maximum Permitted Levels of vitamins in remedies, and although it is still being debated there is a possibility the levels will be in line with France and Germany, which are lower than the UK.
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Tuesday 18 June 2013
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