Written question asked by Mark Todd (Labour) on Thursday, 14 December 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 20 December 2000. It was answered by Baroness Stuart of Edgbaston (Labour) on Wednesday, 20 December 2000 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress the Medicines Control Agency has made in promoting, within Europe, its proposals for a Traditional Use Medicines Directive; and what the main provisions are of its proposals.

Answer: Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress the Medicines Control Agency has made in promoting, within Europe, its proposals for a Traditional Use Medicines Directive; and what the main provisions are of its proposals. [143447] Ms Stuart: At the European Pharmaceutical Committee in September member states agreed the case for a directive on traditional medicinal products. The European Commission subsequently circulated a preliminary draft to member states in order to assess the range of views about possible specific provisions. The proposals draw from work carried out by an expert working group of the Committee for which the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) acted as rapporteur. We will place copies of the text in the Library. The MCA has recently held discussions with representatives of herbal interest groups to discuss our response to the Commission's proposals.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 360 c196W; 143447
Session: 2000-01
Subjects: Complementary medicine Licensing EU action Medicines Control Agency Herbal medicine
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk