Food Supplements: Campaigning For Your Continued Access To Nutritional Supplements

As you know, I've been bringing you regular updates on the latest developments concerning the controversial EU Food Supplements Directive. In the latest edition of New Health Revelations I included the following update in my editorial letter:

As it currently stands, the Directive is set to ban hundreds of vitamins and minerals from health food store shelves across the UK and will lower the dosage amounts of many others to ineffectual levels, when it's fully implemented in August 2005.

Among the natural substances at risk of being banned is the important trace element boron - even though studies have shown that it can help alleviate the debilitating symptoms of osteoporosis and osteoarthritis (J Nutritional Medicine 1990.127-132).

Meanwhile synthetic vitamins and inorganic minerals, which are common ingredients in many multivitamin and mineral products found in supermarkets and pharmacies, will remain unaffected by the ban... despite the fact that they are often far less effective and less well absorbed by our bodies than natural nutrients.

As I mentioned before Agora Lifestyles feels so passionately about this scandalous situation that it has donated a large sum of money to the Alliance for Natural Health (ANH), to help fund their legal campaign to try and overturn this senseless measure.

'There is absolutely no justification for this ban'
The ANH is expecting its case to reach the High Court of Justice in London before Christmas. It'll then be the court's job to determine whether their legal challenge against the EU Supplements Directive will be referred on to the European Court of Justice. Obviously I'll keep you fully updated on developments as they happen in the daily e-Alerts.

The ANH, aided by lawyers from Brick Court Chambers and The Simkins
Partnership in London, claims that the banning of nutritional supplements is both unlawful and unnecessary for the achievement of the Directive's primary purpose, which is harmonisation of legislation relating to food supplements across 15 EU member countries.

David Hinde, the Legal Director of ANH, says: 'This is a ground-breaking case from key parties across Europe, including Sweden, Ireland and the UK, which will be most adversely affected by a Directive that seems not to have been properly thought through.'

Adding to this, Dr Rob Verkerk PhD, Executive Director of the ANH, claims that the ban will: 'Rob the consumer of the right to buy important nutritional supplements to improve their diet and health... as well as putting hundreds of small businesses and the livelihoods of thousands at risk. There is absolutely no justification for this ban and we aim to get it removed'.

Battling on to protect you and your loved ones' health
Despite the ANH's tireless efforts to ensure our continued access to safe, effective and innovative dietary supplements, some people - including those who will be adversely affected by the Directive - argue that taking on such a big force as the EU Parliament is pointless and bound to fail.

For example, Nutraingredients.com posted this unhelpful remark on their website recently, with regards to the ANH's legal battle: '... it is difficult to see how such moves will halt the directive...'

Well, weighing up the odds certainly didn't deter David from taking on Golliath or the Suffragettes movement from continuing to fight for women's right to vote. Although the odds were well and truly stacked against them and despite being met by overwhelming resistance to their efforts, both succeeded through sheer courage and determination.

More along the same lines to the EU Supplements Directive, a legal battle was recently won in Canada in favour of natural remedies. On 22 October 2003 a bill to amend the Canadian Food and Drugs Act was voted through in the House of Commons. It stated that: 1) Dietary supplements, botanicals, herbs and other natural health products should be classed as foods and not drugs. And: 2) That certain existing sections of the Act, prohibiting claims being made on nutritional supplements, should be repealed.

Working to push this important bit of legislation through was Dr Lunney, who didn't give up despite being greeted by overwhelming opposition. This really does offer hope in our current battle to overturn the draconian measures voted in by the EU Parliament. It's a good example of how one voice can make a real difference, so long as you truly believe in the cause you are fighting for and stick to the courage of your convictions... even when you come up against constant ridicule and scorn from those around you.

For more information of the Alliance for Natural Health and how you can help their campaign, visit www.alliance-natural-health.org