Herbal medicines sector warns on EU plans

Author (Person)
Series Title
Series Details 22.11.02, p6 (UK edition)
Publication Date 22/11/2002
Content Type

The European Parliament voted on 21 November 2002 in favour of adopting a proposal on traditional herbal medicinal products. In doing so, MEPs have set basic quality and safety standards for herbal remedies across Europe, products used by millions of EU citizens. The new rules include a new registration system for traditional herbal medicines. These registered products will be subject to standards on the quantity and quality of their ingredients. The substances will have to prove their safety through 'traditional use' which means that they must have been on the market for 30 years - 15 years of which they must have been used in Europe.

A new labelling regime is also under the scope of the new legislation. At present, unlicensed remedies cannot state on the label what they are intended for and what conditions they can treat or cure. Britain's herbal medicine sector claimed the proposed regulations were over-zealous and would result in some treatments being removed from the shelves.

Related Links
http://europarl.europa.eu/omk/sipade2?PUBREF=-//EP//TEXT+PRESS+DN-20021121-1+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&L=EN&LEVEL=2&NAV=X&LSTDOC=N#SECTION10 http://europarl.europa.eu/omk/sipade2?PUBREF=-//EP//TEXT+PRESS+DN-20021121-1+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&L=EN&LEVEL=2&NAV=X&LSTDOC=N#SECTION10

Subject Categories ,