There's some hoo-hah in the press today about the new directive on vitamins. I'm all for public debate about EU legislation - in fact, I think it's crucial to the democratic life of Europe - but, as usual, the UK's debate is too much, too late, and painfully ill-informed.

First, a letter from a QC in The Times:

"The judgment of the European Court of Justice to uphold the Food Supplements Directive (report and leading article, July 13) highlights the way in which the EU’s law-making intentions are easily distorted by an inbuilt addiction to over-regulation.…

"Patricia Hewitt, the Health Secretary, says that our Government will “continue to press for the lightest touch possible in carrying out the directive”. This pitiful acknowledgement of inability or unwillingness to protect our economy and interests demonstrates the need for fundamental change in the objectives and law-making procedures of the EU."

Why is it that the stock response to any decision we take at EU level is to invent spurious objections to the way we take those decisions, rather than actually discussing the quite important issues that surround them?

Firstly, all decisions on new EU-wide laws are taken by the governments of EU member countries and by elected MEPs. If there is praise or blame to be apportioned for any democratic decision, let it at least be apportioned correctly.

Secondly, the charge of "over-regulation" here is outrageous. Setting aside the fact that more than 99% of vitamin products are unaffected by the new rules, the UK's decision to press for this directive was based on conclusive medical advice. As another correspondent pointed out in The Times on the same day, measures that save lives are not self-indulgent over-regulation; on the contrary, they are our solemn duty.

The very same points can be made in response to the ignorance of a still more reactionary letter in my own local York Evening Press (the letter itself isn't available online):

"Once again our lords and masters in Brussels have decreed that all members of the European Union must obey their latest idiocy."

(With a first paragraph like that, I hardly need go on, but let's indulge.)

"And, lemming-like, the British government immediately brings out legislation to enforce it rather than raising a metaphorical second finger right hand skyward, and advising the mandarins in Brussels to 'rotate!'."

Sigh.

What's particularly curious is that, in this case, it was our very own UK government that pressed for the directive - successfully. So, far from showing the blind adherence of our "lemming-like" government to the whims of "mandarins in Brussels", these new rules show just how much Britain can achieve when we work together with our European neighbours.

As for the directive itself, let's not lose sight of three simple facts:

1. More than 99% of vitamin products are unaffected by the new rules.


2. The directive is based on conclusive medical advice already accepted by all 25 EU countries.


3. The measures are strongly supported by the British Dietetic Association.

Surely we should welcome health measures that save lives - not use them as an excuse to invent anti-European arguments?