Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations the UK has made to the EU on the potential effects of the Regulation on Nutrition and Health Claims on the use of folic acid in the NHS; and what steps his Department plans to take to publicise the potential benefits of folic acid in reducing the risk of disease.

The Government has not made any representations to the European Union regarding the potential effects of the regulation on Nutrition and Health claims on the use of folic acid in the National Health Service.

The Government already publicises the benefits of folic supplementation in reducing the risk of neural tube defect affected pregnancies through the NHS Choices website and Start 4 Life. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance states that advice on folic acid supplementation should be provided as part of antenatal care at first contact with a healthcare professional.