News

12th March 2002

John Bowis MEP fights for consumers in Wandsworth to have free choice on vitamin supplements

John Bowis – Conservative Member of the European Parliament for Wandsworth & the London region - has pledged to fight for consumers in Wandsworth to have freedom of choice on health foods - especially vitamin supplements - in the European Parliament this week. MEPs will vote on Wednesday (13/03) on a draft directive that will mean extra regulation in Britain and threaten the continued availability of over 300 products currently on sale for consumers in Wandsworth.

Wandsworth MEP & Conservative Health spokesman John Bowis said: "Although both the British Government and the major manufacturers have thrown in the towel on this issue, we will continue to press for this proposal to be dropped and will be voting against it on Wednesday. Consumers in Wandsworth deserve to have freedom of choice, free from unnecessary Brussels interference.”

John Bowis continued, "Food supplements are much more readily available in Britain than in other countries of the Europe Union. There is no evidence that anyone in Britain has suffered through taking such supplements. We trust the probity of the manufacturer and the good sense of the customer in Wandsworth. We don’t need more red tape.”

"The directive will mean that over 300 products and the substances they contain would be subject to lengthy safety assessment behind closed doors in Brussels - at a cost of many of thousands of pounds each. If they fail that – and some countries, notably Germany, are very restrictive about what they will allow through – then they would be off our shelves for good. This will bring distress to thousands of people in Britain and could put hundreds of health food shops out of business."