Herbal Medicine Regulation - After April 2011

[herbsandhelpers]

David Tredinnick (Bosworth, Conservative)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had on the statutory regulation of herbal medicine, acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Public Health), Health; Guildford, Conservative)

The transitional period under the 2004 Directive on Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products (THMP) will end on 30 April 2011.
 
From this date, all manufactured herbal medicines placed on the market must have either a traditional herbal registration (THR) or a marketing authorisation (MA).
 
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has identified the possibility of creating a national regulatory scheme allowing authorised herbal practitioners to continue to commission unlicensed manufactured herbal medicines after 30 April 2011.
When practitioners legally hold stock at 30 April 2011, they will not be required to dispose of these existing stocks.
 
We are currently in discussion with the devolved administrations, the Health Professions Council and the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council about the feasibility of a statutory register and we expect to make an announcement shortly.
 
I can assure you that this Government are treating this issue as a priority.