The Coeliac Association has called on the government to halt the implementation of the voucher system until it reassessed the proper value the monthly voucher should carry.

The government yesterday announced a system that would replace the issue of gluten free food items for coeliacs with €30 voucher.

The association said this was a government decision in which the association was not involved.

Chairwoman Mary Rose Caruana said the meeting the association had with Health Parliamentary Secretary Chris Fearen on Tuesday was a briefing session which focused on the administrative details of the system and not a consultation meeting.

The government’s plans, Ms Caruana said, were finalised for implementation, irrespective of the meeting with the association.

She said the association could not endorse the Mr Fearne’s statement that the new system was a step in the right direction because coeliacs were currently getting a substantially higher value of gluten free than that they could purchase with the €30 voucher.

If the government really intended to subsidise ceoliacs, she said, vouchers had to be for at least €70.

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