Good Health Naturally

Dear Friend of Good Health;

Last Wednesday was a truly fantastic day for health freedom!

The senior advisor to the European Court of Justice (ECJ), Advocate General Geelhoed, claimed that the EU Food Supplements Directive - which I've been bringing you regular updates on in your daily e-alerts - is invalid under EU law.

This is excellent news, at it means that the Alliance for Natural Health (ANH) now looks set to win its landmark legal challenge against the contentious Food Supplements Directive, which effectively proposed to ban 75% of vitamin and mineral forms.

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While the fight isn't over yet, this is a major step in the right direction

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It should be stressed that the Advocate General's pronouncement is not a ruling. That will come from the ECJ judges, later in the year - probably around June 2005. But typically, in the vast majority of cases, the Court Judgment follows the recommendations of the Advocate General.

If the Advocate General's recommendations are adopted, in effect, the ban on vitamin and mineral forms not included on the EU's 'Positive list,' due to come into effect on 1 August 2005, will be declared illegal. In essence, the positive list of allowable nutrient forms will be deemed to be too narrow, too restrictive, and based on flawed science.

This would avoid the totally irrational situations that the Food Supplements Directive would otherwise create. For example, synthetically produced selenium would have been allowed on the positive list, while the natural source found in Brazil nuts would not; synthetic forms of Vitamin E (often used in 'adverse' vitamin studies reported in the media) would be allowed, but the natural, most beneficial food forms would not.

Commenting on this latest development David C. Hinde, Solicitor and ANH Legal Director, said: "This is a very significant Opinion in a landmark case. What we want to see in the EU is the Food Supplements Directive doing the job for which it was created, which is to provide a "safe harbour" for food supplements so that they are not classified as drugs, and to promote their availability across the EU. Advocate General Geelhoed is the most senior Advocate General at the ECJ and his considered reasoning vindicates ANH's legal analysis and position. We are very optimistic that the Court will adopt his recommendations."

He added. "The ANH is now going to be working on getting a proper procedure in place for the Food Supplements Directive and in addition, the next challenges will be on legislation proposing to reduce dosages to ineffective levels, and to restrict other nutrient forms such as amino acids, enzymes and plant nutrients. Traditional herbal remedies are also under threat. In its work, the Alliance for Natural Health will continue its thorough, professional approach based, as always, on 'good science, good law."

So the chances of consumers being able to continue using the nutritional supplements they believe are beneficial to their health are now greatly increased. There has been uproar about the proposed EU ban, and maybe, against the odds, the consumer is going to come out on top in what is a remarkable modern day case of David and Goliath.

Obviously I'll continue to bring you updates on this important matter in your daily email alerts. In the meantime, a big thank you to all of you who have joined us to campaign against the EU Food Supplement Directive!

With healthiest and Kindest Regard

Robert Redfern
Robert@goodhealth.nu
www.goodhealthnaturally.com