Written question asked by Cheryl Gillan (Conservative) on Wednesday, 18 December 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 9 January 2003. It was answered by Hazel Blears (Labour) on Thursday, 9 January 2003 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what pharmaceutical production and testing standards will be imposed on herbal remedies by the proposed Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive.

Answer: Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what pharmaceutical production and testing standards will be imposed on herbal remedies by the proposed Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive. [88687] Ms Blears: The production and testing standards under the proposed Directive on Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products would be those which apply to herbal medicines with a marketing authorisation, but modified to the extent that there would not be a requirement to demonstrate the efficacy of a product for which a traditional use registration was sought. The proposed requirements are intended to provide appropriate consumer protection, for example, by ensuring that the correct ingredients of appropriate quality and free from unacceptable levels of contamination are used and that the proposed shelf life of the product can be supported. The specific requirements include meeting European guidelines on Good Manufacturing Practice for herbal medicines and compliance with the European Pharmacopoeia monographs for products of herbal origin.

Secondary information