Availability Of Herbal Remedies

EDM number 14 in 1994-95, proposed by William Cash on 16/11/1994.

That this House notes the valuable contribution made to the health of millions of British subjects, over many centuries, by the use of herbal remedies; notes that the proposed implementation on 1st January 1995 of a draft Statutory Instrument, Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations, Pharmacovigilance and Related Matters) Regulations 1994, would remove exemptions for herbal remedies from the medicines licensing procedures currently afforded, by sections 12 and 56 of the Medicines Act 1968 and could lead to such herbal products requiring a full product licence at a cost of up to ú84,000; regrets that this would inevitably lead to the disappearance of the majority of herbal remedies which have been used safely and effectively for many years; observes that such changes would also damage those who practise the systems of medicine favoured by many in the Asian, Caribbean and Chinese communities; opposes the injury which such a move would have on responsible manufacturers of such products, health food shops and medical herbalists and on the significant progress being made in improving standards of quality, safety and efficacy for herbal remedies; and, bearing in mind that Germany has taken it upon itself to provide its own exemptions, urges Her Majesty's Government urgently to consult more widely with those organisations involved in herbal medicine and to decline to bring forward the proposed Statutory Instrument.

This motion has been signed by a total of 140 MPs, 5 of these signatures have been withdrawn.