Tolerable Upper Intake Levels for Vitamins and Minerals by the Scientific Panel on Dietetic products, nutrition and allergies (NDA) and Scientific Committee on Food (SCF)

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ISBN 92-9199-014-0
Publication date: December 2006
Available in English

 

Foreword

The scientific opinions presented in this compilation were developed at the request of the European Commission by the Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) (up to April 2003) and the Scientific Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) of EFSA (May 2003 to 2005). The context of this request was the need for scientific advice on the safety of vitamins and minerals to support the implementation of impending harmonized EU legislation for food supplements and fortified foods, and particularly to assist with the setting of maximum limits for micronutrients in these products.

These opinions present comprehensive evaluations of possible adverse health effects of individual micronutrients at intakes in excess of dietary requirements and, where possible, establish Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UL) for different population groups. The approach taken was based on the principles of scientific risk assessment.

Both the SCF and the NDA Panel, in turn, established a working group to prepare draft opinions which were then considered, revised and adopted at plenary meetings of the SCF or the NDA Panel. This working group, which I was privileged to chair, comprised of experts in toxicology and nutrition drawn from the SCF or NDA Panel, complemented by additional experts.

Sincere appreciation is due to the many scientists whose dedication and commitment made the completion of these reports possible. In particular, I would like to thank those who prepared draft reports - Jan Alexander, Wulf Becker, Maxine Bonham, Veronique Azaïs Braesco, Angelo Carere, Hans Classen, Peter Elias, Ibrahim Elmadfa, Werner Grunow, Alan Jackson, Andreu Palou, Hildegard Przyrembel, Andy Renwick, Wim Saris, Eberhard Schmidt, Klaus Schümann, Gerrit Speijers, Sean Strain, Henk van den Berg and Ron Walker.

I also thank the EFSA and EC staff who supported this work, in particular Pilar Rodríguez Iglesias and Leng Heng (Secretariat of the NDA Panel), Miguel Ángel Granero Rosell, (Secretariat of the SCF), and Helen Lee, Basil Mathioudakis and Sabine Osaer (DG Health and Consumer Protection).

These opinions will find immediate application by the regulatory agencies that oversee addition of micronutrients to foods and food supplements in the EU. They also represent a valuable scientific reference on the safety of micronutrients which will be used by scientists and policy makers for many years.

Albert Flynn, Chair
EFSA Scientific Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies

December, 2005