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, if he will make a statement on the extent to which the proposed Traditional Use Medicines Directive will provide a secure legal basis for products which are herbal medicines exempt from licensing under section 12 of the Medicines Act 1968.

Answer: Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the extent to which the proposed Traditional Use Medicines Directive will provide a secure legal basis for products which are herbal medicines exempt from licensing under section 12 of the Medicines Act 1968. [143446] Ms Stuart: If the proposals for a directive on traditional medicinal products can be agreed, we expect that it would provide a secure legal basis for regulating a wide range of traditional herbal remedies of the kind currently sold to the public under section 12(2) of the Medicines Act 1968. It is unlikely that the directive would have a direct impact on arrangements whereby herbalists make up and supply the public with herbal remedies following face to face consultation, as permitted under section 12(1) of the Act.

Secondary information