Availability Of Herbal Remedies

EDM number 1672 in 1993-94, proposed by David Nicholson on 27/10/1994.

That this House notes the valuable contribution made to the health of the nation over many centuries by the use of herbal remedies; notes with concern that the implementation on 1st January 1995 of a new European directive could lead to all such herbal products requiring a full product licence, at an average cost of over ú80,000 a licence in the provision of the necessary research data; regrets that such a development would inevitably lead to the disappearance of the overwhelming majority of herbal remedies, which have been used safely and effectively for many years; and urges Her Majesty's Government urgently to review the situation, to consult more widely with those organisations involved in herbal medicine, and to ensure that the form in which this directive is ultimately implemented does not deny millions of consumers the opportunity to benefit from products of their choice whose effectiveness in many cases is beyond doubt.

This motion has been signed by a total of 56 MPs.