A CONSERVATIVE politician in Richmond is campaigning to save a range of vitamins and mineral tablets from being banned by Europe.

Marco Forgione, prospective parliamentary candidate for Richmond Park has called on residents to sign an online petition to keep the supplements.

Under the new European Food Supplements Directive, vitamins such as a 1gm vitamin C tablet will be banned. This is not for safety reasons but in the name of European harmonisation', said Mr Forgione. Conservatives have launched an online petition, working in partnership with the pressure group Consumers for Health Choice, who are distributing postcards and posters to local health food stores.

Mr Forgione said: "It is too late to reverse that decision, but it is not too late to change the way that the laws will be enforced and the small print. It is still possible to save many vitamin and health supplements that people have been using safely for years.

"I call upon residents to sign our e-petition at www.conservatives.com/vitamins. With the public's help, we can force ministers to preserve access to these products on behalf of consumers."