Dear Lesley,
And here's the fantastic news!!
We thank you sincerely in helping us achieve this first stage victory in our legal challenge of the Food Supplements Directive!
There's still a long way to go - in support of nutritional approaches
to healthcare. But yesterday's court decision was the best possible
outcome!! Viva - health freedom!!
PRESS RELEASE
ALLIANCE FOR NATURAL HEALTH OBTAINS REFERENCE TO EUROPEAN COURT
ON FOOD SUPPLEMENTS BAN
An English High Court judge ruled yesterday that the legislative powers of the European Commission should be examined by the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.
The landmark cases brought by the Alliance for Natural Health and two UK industry associations have been successful both in getting permission for Judicial Review and obtaining a reference to the European Court of Justice in their challenge to the legality of the Food Supplements Directive ban on nutrients.
Mr Justice Richards gave decisive judgment yesterday afternoon after having examined the voluminous evidence and complex legal arguments. He emphasised that the reference to the European Court should be made without delay given that the ban on up to 5000 vitamin and mineral products as of 1 August 2005 in the UK alone, as proposed by Brussels legislators, would impact manufacturers, retailers, practitioners and consumers reliant on these products across Europe.
This is a test case on the proper scope of the legislative powers of the Community Legislator over member states and has far reaching implications for health as well as freedom of choice.
The industry and complementary health organisations around Europe are hopeful that the European Court of Justice will give its ruling prior to the imposition of the ban which comes into on 1 August 2005, on up to 270 forms of vitamins and minerals that are currently available in food supplements sold in markets such as the UK, Sweden, Ireland and The Netherlands.
Dr Robert Verkerk, Executive Director of the Alliance for Natural Health says: �This court decision is a victory for millions of consumers of advanced food supplements, many of which have found good health using nutrition as the central approach. We are hopeful that the European Court in Luxembourg will invalidate the unnecessary ban on the wide range of natural, food-derived ingredients that comprise most of the advanced food supplements. The proposed ban is wholly unnecessary and works counter to health policy where nutrition is increasingly seen as a key way forward.�
---end.
CONTACT DETAILS for further information:
Dr Robert Verkerk
Executive Director
Tel: 01252 371 275 (general enquiries)
Tel: 0771 484 7225 (direct)
E-mail:
[email protected]
David Hinde, Solicitor
Legal Director
Tel: 07958 548 186 (Direct)
E-mail:
[email protected]
For further information please see attached press release ANH
landmark legal challenge released on the day of the court
hearing (Friday 30 January 2004) and ANH website:
ANH PRESS RELEASE: Landmark legal challenge
