Conclusions

The IAHS considers that the data presented above show conclusively that vitamin/mineral supplements are amongst the safest products ingested. The data also demonstrates that vitamin/mineral supplements have substantial benefits to health. Moreover, the safety and benefits of vitamin/mineral supplements far outweigh any threat to human health that they may pose. The data shows that nutritional deficit is a far greater threat to human health than high supplemental levels of nutrients.

It follows therefore that rigorous risk assessment and management of vitamin/mineral supplements is, for the most part, not indicated, and if applied will contravene the sprit and purpose of the Food Supplements Directive and reduce consumer choice markedly. Certainly most of the risk assessment models reviewed by the discussion paper and the measures they entail are wholly disproportionate to the risks present by food supplements. Finally, over-regulation will encourage black market conditions where no quality or safety standards exist at all.