HEALTH conscious vitamin users in York have been left angry and confused after the European Court of Justice backed controversial new laws tightening controls on the sale of supplements.

Under the Food Supplements Directive, due to come into effect in August, natural remedies, vitamin supplements and mineral plant extracts must be on an approved list. Hundreds of supplements not on the list will be banned and higher doses of others will be restricted.

The Alliance for Natural Health, the Health Food Manufacturers' Association and the National Association of Health Stores had all protested that the legislation was too restrictive and would affect thousands of products that had been used safely for years.

Helen Spath, owner of Tulliver's Herbs & Wholefoods, In Colliergate, York, said: "This ruling is a bad thing because people will lose the supplements they have been used to using.

"This is not a safety issue, it is purely a standardisation issue. Other countries in the EU do not have the same tradition of using vitamins and minerals as we have in the UK, and we have been overruled because of our different ethos. These supplements have never caused problems."

She said that a black market in supplements already exists on the internet, adding: "We are in favour of this legislation if it stops people buying nasty stuff from the internet from places outside the EU. But that will still carry on. Safety is a high priority for us and we want procedures and regulations to protect people.

"It's just a shame all the choice has been taken away."

Debbie Nobes, of vitamin suppliers Solgar, said: "This legislation gives out the wrong message that these things are unsafe. It makes it hard for individuals to take their health into their own hands. There will be more pressure on the NHS if people can't buy supplements.

"For the consumer, confusion reigns. Reformulations are in hand, and at the moment nutrient levels are not affected, but that will be the next push."

Amanda Latchmore, a yoga teacher from Harrogate, has been campaigning to raise awareness of what the changes will mean. She said: "I think it's an appalling infringement of our personal liberty. I've tried to raise awareness but the public don't realise what the impact will be. Most people have no idea about the implications.

"Why should we be dictated to? The freedom to manage our own health has been taken away. It makes me really angry.

"People don't seem to believe that they won't be able to carry on buying what they are buying."

The judges supported their decision, saying: "A 'positive list' system is appropriate for securing the free movement of food supplements and ensuring the protection of human health."

Updated: 10:42 Thursday, July 14, 2005