§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department has any plans to commission research into the number of traditional Indian and Chinese medicines that are available in the United Kingdom without a product licence, and the number of people who have been treated with such products.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyMedicinal products are evaluated for safety, quality and efficacy when an application for a product licence is made. This action would be taken on any such application in respect of a traditional Indian or Chinese medicine.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures the Medicines Control Agency is taking to evaluate and license traditional Indian and Chinese medicines.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyBefore a medicinal product can be marketed in the United Kingdom it must be covered by a product licence obtained under the Medicines Act 1968. All product licence applications, including any for traditional Indian or Chinese medicines, have to be evaluated for safety, quality and efficacy by the licensing authority before a product licence can be granted.