756. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health the current status of the European Commission's proposals to set harmonised maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements and fortified foods; if her Department and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland are represented on the relevant European Commission task force; if she will ensure that Ireland advances the need for a degree of national flexibility within any harmonised approach, given that nutritional requirements such as vitamin D vary significantly across the Union owing to differences in latitude and sunlight; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47326/26]

757. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health if her Department or the Food Safety Authority of Ireland intends to make a submission to any forthcoming European Commission consultation on harmonised maximum levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements; if she will ensure that any such submission reflects the need for national flexibility to account for the specific nutritional needs of the Irish population, including vitamin D requirements arising from limited sunlight at northern latitudes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47327/26]

758. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health if her Department or the Food Safety Authority of Ireland will ensure the EU Commission's upcoming public on harmonised maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements and fortified foods will be publicised so that citizens and interested parties in Ireland will be aware of the proposals and have an opportunity to participate in the process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47328/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 756, 757 and 758 together.

I propose to take PQs 47326/26, 47327/26 and 47328/26 together.

I am aware of the ongoing work of the European Commission in relation to the possible setting of maximum amounts for vitamins and minerals in food supplements and fortified foods. These potential maximum levels remain under consideration at EU level, given the difficulty of balancing consumer safety with the varying nutritional needs of different population groups.

The commission has met with stakeholders representing industry groups. The commission has indicated that it will publish a call for evidence at which time all interested parties will be encouraged to participate in any Commission call for evidence or consultation process when it opens.

The Department is monitoring developments closely. Officials have engaged with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), which has the relevant scientific and technical expertise in this area. The FSAI will continue to provide advice and technical input, as appropriate, and to engage with stakeholders in line with its statutory role.

The Department has not finalised a national position on this matter. Any position will be informed by the evidence presented by the European Commission, the scientific advice of the European Food Safety Authority, the views of Member States, and any relevant stakeholder input.

Vitamins and essential minerals are micronutrients required for the body to function properly. While they are vital for health, consuming them in excessive amounts can cause harmful effects. To address this risk, the concept of a tolerable upper intake level (UL) was developed. This science-based reference value helps policymakers and other stakeholders assess and manage the potential dangers of excessive nutrient intake.

The purpose of setting Maximum Amounts (MAs) is to ensure the safety of consumers. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) Scientific Committee previously gave advice with regards to setting maximum amounts in www.fsai.ie/publications/the-safety-of-vitamins-and-minerals-in-food-supple report. The approach proposed by the European Commission is in line with this advice. The values will be set on the most up-to-date scientific data, standard model of calculation and on a case-by-case basis, with protecting human health at the forefront.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have established tolerable ULs for vitamins and minerals across the population age ranges. The UL is the highest level of nutrient intake that is not likely to cause negative health effects for almost all individuals in the general population. As intake increases above the UL, the risk of adverse/negative effects increases. The ULs include dietary intake from ALL sources and applies to all forms of authorised vitamins and minerals for addition to foods and food supplements.