To ask Her Majesty's Government in what circumstances the Office of Fair Trading would consider taking civil enforcement action against companies repeatedly distributing mail order catalogues containing illegal claims about health products. [HL5272]

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) selects cases to investigate in accordance with its prioritisation principles, having regard to issues such as the level of consumer harm and the wider effects of any action it may take. In considering whether to launch an investigation in the circumstances outlined, the OFT would also need to have specific regard to whether the claims being made are medicinal in nature and as such regulated by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, whether the alleged misconduct could be best dealt with by the Advertising Standards Authority or another compliance partner in the first instance, and whether the trader was based within the OFT's geographical jurisdiction.