Consumers for Health Choice has warned that a new crop of inexperienced MEPs might be persuaded to vote in favour of very low maximum permitted levels (MPLs) for vitamins and minerals.
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 very 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.
CHC’s director of strategy, Chris Whitehouse 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.”
Working closely with the National Association of Health Stores, CHC is also calling on health food retailers to put pressure on their local MEP. It is providing a CHC toolkit for retailers to use, including a draft letter template, briefing information and information on where to find the name and address of their MEP.
