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Written question asked by Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party) on Wednesday, 2 September 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 4 September 2026. It was answered by Sarah Owen (Labour) on Monday, 14 September 2026 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.

Dietary Supplements: Northern Ireland

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the implications for businesses in Northern Ireland of proposed European Union food supplement regulations.

Answer

NIO Ministers engage regularly with Cabinet colleagues on a variety of issues including European Union Regulations applying in Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework, such as the European Union food supplement regulations..

The UK Government is negotiating a new strategic partnership with the EU called a sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement. It is the Government’s intention that the agreement will take effect in mid-2027. Legislation relating to food supplements and the addition of vitamins and minerals to foods is within scope of the SPS agreement.

An SPS agreement would mean that legislation in-scope of the agreement in Great Britain, would dynamically align with equivalent legislation in the EU. This also means that regulations for businesses in both Great Britain and Northern Ireland will be aligned.

Therefore, if EU Food Supplements Regulations are updated in the future to include maximum levels of vitamins and minerals, these regulations in Great Britain will be updated, too.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
26540
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Business Dietary supplements EU law Northern Ireland Departmental coordination
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk