AMSTERDAM — The Health Ministry is studying a French ban on the energy drink Red Bull and might follow its lead by hauling the product from retail shelves.

The European Court recently granted the French permission to ban the energy drink. Both Denmark and Sweden have also stopped domestic sales of Red Bull, newspaper De Telegraaf reported on Wednesday.
 
But the Dutch Health Ministry will first examine the French pros and cons influencing the ban. A ministry spokesman said the Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (VWA) will then draw up a risk analysis.
 
The French ban is based on the nation’s food laws, which stipulates a different legally-allowed caffeine content than what is permitted in the Netherlands.

[Copyright Expatica News 2004]

Subject: Dutch news