Appendix 7: Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (ULs) for Vitamins and Minerals

Abstract

In accordance with the 1998 working programme of the European Commission, active consideration was given to the subject of harmonising legislation for food supplements containing vitamins and minerals and to the addition of vitamins and minerals to foods. In 2002, the European Parliament and the Council adopted Directive 2002/46/EC1 related to food supplements containing vitamins and minerals. In 2003, the Commission published a proposal for harmonising legislation concerning the addition of vitamins and minerals to foods2. The SCF was therefore asked to advise the European Commission in accordance with the following terms of reference. With a view to provide scientific support to the Commission’s legislative work in this field, the SCF issued, from October 2000 to April 2003, a series of opinions on tolerable upper intake levels of individual vitamins and minerals. The SCF opinions covered 22 out of the 29 nutrients, which were considered to be within its mandate for this task. The SCF did not have sufficient time to adopt opinions for the following vitamins and minerals: vitamin C, chloride, fluoride, iron, phosphorus, potassium and sodium. In addition, during the decision making process for the adoption of Directive 2000/46/EC on food supplements, the European Parliament requested that boron, nickel, silicon, vanadium and tin should be allowed to be used in food supplements. Therefore, in 2003 EFSA was asked to provide scientific opinions on the remaining 12 vitamins and minerals in accordance with the following terms of reference.