News story

7th February 2005

Yate Health Food Shop Joins Forces with Local MP Over "Vitamin Ban"

Yate health food shop Healthwise and local MP Steve Webb have joined forces in a campaign against a planned ban on selected vitamin supplements and herbal remedies. Shop owner Wendy Round has launched a fresh petition to campaign against plans, due to be implemented in July 2005, which will prevent the sale of high doses of certain vitamins and herbal products which do not pass stringent new safety checks. This will in some cases prevent the sale of products which have been sold and used for many years.

Last month MPs voted on the ban, with local MP Steve Webb opposing restrictions in the rights of consumers to buy products of this sort, but the Government forced the measure through. Now local consumers are invited to sign a new petition to press the Government to think again, which Steve Webb has agreed to present to Ministers.

This week Steve Webb visited the Healthwise shop in Yate Shopping centre to meet customers and hear more about the value that they attach to vitamin and herbal products - and to give his backing to the campaign.

Commenting, Steve Webb said:

"Where people have been safely using these products for years, I cannot see that there is a health and safety justification for banning them. Many people report positive health benefits from taking supplements of this sort and they should be allowed to continue to do so".