asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether new products bearing claims referring to (a) children's development and health; (b) slimming and weight-control; or (c) newly emerging science can be placed on the United Kingdom market after 7 July under European Union Regulation 1924/2006 on Nutrition and Health Claims Made on Foods. [HL3100]

The regulation puts in place various transitional periods, and associated conditions, which allow health claims to continue to be made following the application date of 1 July and until the Community list of health claims has been adopted. These transitional periods relate to the health claim, rather than the product or nature of supporting evidence.

The specific transitional period for claims, which refer to slimming or weight control and psychological behavioural functions, allows claims on the market prior to 19 January 2007 to continue to be used on the condition that an application for authorisation has been made prior to 19 January 2008.

The controls for claims referring to children's development and health were added late in negotiations and as a result a specific transitional period could be included with an amendment on comitology currently being discussed. Both the Council and Commission have indicated that they would support this, if proposed by the European Parliament.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 7 March (WA 54), when they next propose to meet with the Governments of (a) Jersey, and (b) Guernsey to determine the extent to which the European Union legislation governing the composition, presentation and marketing of food supplements and herbal remedies applies to them; and [HL3102]

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 7 March (WA 56), when officials from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency last met with the Governments of (a) Jersey, and (b) Guernsey as part of their ongoing dialogue to control the marketing of illegal products; and when they next plan to meet. [HL3103]

Both Guernsey and Jersey have indicated their willingness to apply relevant European Union legislation. In the mean time, no meetings have yet been deemed necessary.

Officials from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), an executive agency of the department, met officials from the Government of Guernsey on 17 December 2003. The MHRA has had no meetings with the Government of Jersey. Following the MHRA's assessment of the current consultation exercise of the Government of Guernsey on medicines legislation, the MHRA will be writing to the Governments of both Guernsey and Jersey asking for meetings.