Guest guest Posted November 5, 2004 Report Share Posted November 5, 2004 There has been some panic over the continued availability of chinese herbs in the EU. However the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive, which is a newly passed law as part of the codex alimentarius, specifically exempts herbalists using raw herbs - see last line below. While some herbs will be banned due to safety issues, like guang fang ji, most will be freely available. While the codex is certainly onerous for those who make extensive use of prepared supplements, it does not appear it will affect herbalists using herbs. I still think that that loss of access to other prepared supplements is unacceptable, but should perhaps be mitgated in Europe by the fact that healthcare is nationalized. So it is a much simpler matter to go to the doctor and get a prescription for your vitamins over there, especially since most EU docs frequently advocate such items. But we should beware. There is a good chance that the US will be forced to adopt part or all of the codex at some date due to GATT treaties. I suppose we could decide to isolate ourselves economically as well as culturally, intellectually and militarily, but I don't see that happening. Ironically, the one area where the Bush administration will likely have to kiss EU butt is on the trade issues. However, in the US, due to so many people having no access to healthcare, most people having no access to alt. healthcare and a medical establishment generally skeptical about the use of supplements, there will be no recourse for our citizens if this comes to pass. Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive The majority of herbal products are currently on sale in the UK under Section 12 of the 1968 Medicines Act as ‘medicines exempt from licensing’. Although acknowledged as safe, these products are regarded by some regulators as technically illegal under EU law. . Led by regulators from the UK Department of Health, the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive (THMPD) has been adopted by the EU Parliament and was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 30th April 2004. The Directive requires all Member States to comply with the Directive by 30th October 2005. Discussions continue with regulators on a number of topics including the options for legal categorisation and the types of product claims available. The THMPD would allow a marketing authorisation (product licence) to be given to medicines without proof of efficacy provided they are: 1. safe 2. have been in traditional medicinal use throughout a period of at least 30 years preceding the date of application. At least 15 of the 30 years must relate to the European Union. 3. are produced to expensive standards that are more appropriate to pharmaceutical drugs than to naturally occurring substances. The legislation does not apply to homeopathic medicinal products eligible for licence. There remain problems with the text of the Directive. THMPD would impose unduly onerous burdens on industry, for smaller businesses in particular and jeopardise the future of many safe, popular and effective herbal remedies. The THMPD specifically excludes herbalists from its remit, so whilst pharmaceutical manufacturing standards are to be imposed on the manufacturers and health food shops, herbalists can carry on making up remedies in their kitchen or elsewhere. Chinese Herbs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 5, 2004 Report Share Posted November 5, 2004 Bulk-dispensed Chinese medicinals are extremely expensive in Europe and rarely used. They don't have enough Chinese, they do have VAT (value-added tax, compounded at every transaction), and patients must get their prescriptions filled at pharmacies. So the continued ability to prescribe bulk-dispensed Chinese medicinals is not much of a loophole. Bob , wrote: > There has been some panic over the continued availability of chinese > herbs in the EU. However the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products > Directive, which is a newly passed law as part of the codex > alimentarius, specifically exempts herbalists using raw herbs - see > last line below. While some herbs will be banned due to safety issues, > like guang fang ji, most will be freely available. While the codex is > certainly onerous for those who make extensive use of prepared > supplements, it does not appear it will affect herbalists using herbs. > I still think that that loss of access to other prepared supplements is > unacceptable, but should perhaps be mitgated in Europe by the fact that > healthcare is nationalized. So it is a much simpler matter to go to > the doctor and get a prescription for your vitamins over there, > especially since most EU docs frequently advocate such items. But we > should beware. There is a good chance that the US will be forced to > adopt part or all of the codex at some date due to GATT treaties. I > suppose we could decide to isolate ourselves economically as well as > culturally, intellectually and militarily, but I don't see that > happening. Ironically, the one area where the Bush administration will > likely have to kiss EU butt is on the trade issues. However, in the > US, due to so many people having no access to healthcare, most people > having no access to alt. healthcare and a medical establishment > generally skeptical about the use of supplements, there will be no > recourse for our citizens if this comes to pass. > > > Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive > > The majority of herbal products are currently on sale in the UK under > Section 12 of the 1968 Medicines Act as `medicines exempt from > licensing'. Although acknowledged as safe, these products are regarded > by some regulators as technically illegal under EU law. . > > Led by regulators from the UK Department of Health, the Traditional > Herbal Medicinal Products Directive (THMPD) has been adopted by the EU > Parliament and was published in the Official Journal of the European > Union on 30th April 2004. The Directive requires all Member States to > comply with the Directive by 30th October 2005. > > Discussions continue with regulators on a number of topics including > the options for legal categorisation and the types of product claims > available. > > The THMPD would allow a marketing authorisation (product licence) to > be given to medicines without proof of efficacy provided they are: > 1. safe > 2. have been in traditional medicinal use throughout a period of at > least 30 years preceding the date of application. At least 15 of the 30 > years must relate to the European Union. > 3. are produced to expensive standards that are more appropriate to > pharmaceutical drugs than to naturally occurring substances. > > The legislation does not apply to homeopathic medicinal products > eligible for licence. > > There remain problems with the text of the Directive. THMPD would > impose unduly onerous burdens on industry, for smaller businesses in > particular and jeopardise the future of many safe, popular and > effective herbal remedies. > > The THMPD specifically excludes herbalists from its remit, so whilst > pharmaceutical manufacturing standards are to be imposed on the > manufacturers and health food shops, herbalists can carry on making up > remedies in their kitchen or elsewhere. > > > > Chinese Herbs > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 8, 2004 Report Share Posted November 8, 2004 , " Bob Flaws " <pemachophel2001> wrote: patients must > get their prescriptions filled at pharmacies. > > The THMPD specifically excludes herbalists from its remit, so whilst > > pharmaceutical manufacturing standards are to be imposed on the > > manufacturers and health food shops, herbalists can carry on making up > > remedies in their kitchen or elsewhere. These two lines seem to contradict each other. However your other concerns are noteworthy. Can someone in Europe tell me what they pay for a pound of shu di huang, for example? where do you get it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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