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Dept of Health

Answer

Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the impact of the proposed traditional herb medicines products directive on the registration of treatments for head lice. [223864] Ms Rosie Winterton: There are 25 products licensed under medicines legislation for the treatment of head lice in the United Kingdom. All of these are either restricted to pharmacy sale or supply by a prescription from a doctor. These products will remain unaffected by the implementation of the directive on traditional herbal medicinal products (2004/24/EC). There may be other products used in the treatment of head lice, which currently reach the market as unlicensed herbal remedies. These will potentially qualify to be registered under Directive 2004/24/EC when it is implemented on 30 October this year. To qualify for registration, products will have to demonstrate that they comply with the required evidence of traditional usage and that they meet the required standards of safety and quality. Products registered under Directive 2004/24/EC will have indications exclusively appropriate to traditional herbal medicinal products, which due to their composition and purpose are intended and designed for use without the supervision of a medical practitioner for diagnostic purposes or for the prescription or monitoring of treatment. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) anticipates that the majority of products registered under this directive will be suitable for general sale list status.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

432 c1076-7W; 223864

Session

2004-05

Subjects

EU action Medical treatments Safety Herbal medicine Head lice

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk