WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2892/97 by Glyn FORD to the Commission. Harmonization of vitamin and health supplements
Date: 1997-09-17
Institutions: European Parliament, FORD
Subjects: approximation of laws, consumer protection, food additive, medicinal product, nutrition, pharmaceutical product, public health, vitamin

16. 4. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 117/95

The European Union raised the case of Mr Yusefi with the Iranian authorities in the framework of the EU-Iran
Critical Dialogue, which until April 1997 served as a framework for raising inter alia human rights issues with
Iran.

The  Union  and  its  Member  States  furthermore  play  an  active  part  in  the  work  of  the  UN  Human  Rights
Commission  and  of  the  Third  Committee  at  the  UN  General  Assembly,  the  principal  fora  for  addressign  the
human rights situation in Iran.

(98/C 117/121)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2892/97

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(17 September 1997)

Subject: Harmonization of vitamin and health supplements

Is  the  Commission  aware  that  plans  to  harmonize  vitamin  and  health  supplements  could  result  in  these
supplements having a limited amount of vitamin content?

Does the Commission accept that high dosages of vitamins have in some cases proved tremendously successful
in improving patient health?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(15 October 1997)

A discussion document on the addition of vitamins and minerals to foods and on food supplements prepared by
the  Commission  was  made  available  to  the  public  and  is  sent  direct  to  the  Honourable  Member  and  to  the
Parliament(cid:146)s  secretariat.    The  document  raised  a  number  of  issues  and  requested  comments  by  30  Septem-
ber  1997.    The  Commission  will  carefully  evaluate  the  comments  received  before  taking  any  steps  towards
harmonisation.  At this stage the Commission cannot foresee the results of such possibile harmonisation on any
possible issue such as vitamin content.

The Commission will consider evidence, substantiated by generally acceptable scientific data, as to the dose
related benefits of vitamins for consumer health.

(98/C 117/122)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2898/97

by Bartho Pronk (PPE) to the Commission

(17 September 1997)

Subject: Sickness insurance in the European Union

Privately insured persons in the Netherlands have no right, on moving within the European Union, to form E-111
for  urgent  medical  treatment  in  another  Member  State  on  the  basis  of  Annex  VI  to  Regulation  1408/71 (1)
(application  of  social  security  rules  to  employees  and  self-employed  persons  and  members  of  their  families
moving within the Community).

1.
Is it true that in Sweden, where a national sickness insurance scheme applies, other EU nationals to whom
medical  treatment  is  provided  are  expected,  regardless  of  whether  or  not  they  are  privately  insured  in  their
Member State of origin or are covered by the national scheme, to produce a form E-111?

In what other EU Member States operating a national sickness insurance scheme is form E-111 asked for

2.
when medical treatment is provided?