European Law
The main piece of European legislation governing medicine is EU Directive 2001/83/EC.This can be accessed here
In April 2004, the Traditional Herbal Medicines Product Directive (THMPD) came into force throughout the EU. This is Directive 2004/24/EC - which in itself is part of the main EU medicines Directive mentioned above.
The MHRA has a document providing an overview of the regulatory issues associated with the THMPD - please click here to access the document.
As explained above, the THMPD is being fully implemented in April 2011. This legislation relates to products sold over-the-counter and not the practise per se of herbal medicine. As mentioned, in 2011 it will replace section 12(2) of the Medicines Act of 1968. After this time, only those herbal products granted a traditional medicines licence (unless they have a full marketing authorisation) may be sold over-the-counter. Such traditionally licensed herbal products will be obliged to carry indications on their packaging. These indications will be limited to the treatment of minor and self-limiting diseases.
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