The European Commission is to propose legislation that will lay down harmonised rules throughout the 15 EU member countries for the labelling and sale of vitamins and minerals.
According to a spokesman, the objective is two-fold: to set out a general framework and safety rules for vitamins and minerals in the EU and to give consumers information, such as recommended daily consumption and warnings about exceeding this limit. Both maximum and minimum levels of vitamin and mineral content for dietary supplements will be set.
In addition, the draft directive contains a list of vitamins, minerals and chemicals that may be used in the manufacture of dietary supplements. These ingredients will have been assessed by the Scientific Committee for Food.
The commission believes that action is needed in this field because of an increase in the use of dietary supplements and because of varying national rules and attitudes to the proliferation of these products.
"Informed consumer choice and safety are the key concerns driving this initiative," the spokesman added.
It was possible that the scope of the directive could be cut back before it became law which, in any event, was not likely before 2001.