IADSA Dispels Codex Supplement Myths

BRUSSELS, Belgium The International Alliance of Dietary/Food Supplement Associations (IADSA) has spoken out against what it calls false statements vilifying the goals, purpose and transparency of Codex Alimentarius work on food supplements that have peppered the Internet in recent weeks. The alliance has monitored Codex for more than 10 years and said the recent spate of false accusations range from claims that Codex plans to make supplements prescription-only, to confusion about the legally binding nature of its guidelines and standards. Many such critiques also question the transparency of Codex meetings and procedures.

There are currently false statements being circulated in a number of countries claiming that the activities of Codex Alimentarius will have a negative impact on food supplements, said Byron Johnson, chairman of IADSA. One of these statements, for example, is that it plans to make supplements available by prescription only. This is completely untrue. Just four years ago Codex adopted a Guideline for vitamin and mineral supplements, which clearly placed supplements under food law. Codex bases its guidelines and standards on the latest available scientific knowledge gathered from experts across the world.

Johnson further noted all Codex guidelines are voluntary, but many governments have brought their countrys laws in line with the guidelines from Codex, which is jointly run by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations (UN) Food and Agricultural Organization.  While final decisions are taken by member country delegations, there are more than 160 international non-governmental organisations that participate in Codex discussions as observers, he noted. These observers represent consumers, universities, scientists, industry and so forth. There is nothing mysterious about that.