Herbal Medicines (Hansard, 21 November 1994)

§ Sir Thomas Arnold
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her policy towards herbal cures; and if she will make a statement.

§ Sir David Knox
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations she has received concerning the proposed Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations, Pharmacovigilance and Related Matters) Regulations and the future availability of herbal medicines.

§ Mr. Canavan
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether she will consult all interested parties before taking final decisions on regulations concerning the availability of herbal remedies and essential oils for aromatherapy;
(2) whether she will make a statement on Government proposals regarding the availability of herbal remedies and essential oils for aromatherapy;
(3) whether she will take steps to ensure the continued availability at a reasonable price of harmless herbal remedies and essential oils for aromatherapy.

§ Mrs. Ann Winterton
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will now make a statement on her policy on the future availability of herbal remedies.

§ Mr. Beith
To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether traditional herbal remedies will in future require registration; what representation she has received on this issue; and if she will make a statement.

§ Mr. Sackville
Herbal medicines currently exempt from product licensing requirements under section 12 of the Medicines Act 1968 will continue to enjoy this exemption. The exemptions and public health safeguards under section 56 of the Act also remain. The position on the sale of aromatherapy oils also remains unchanged. There should, therefore, be no effect on the prices of these products.
We have received representations on the issue of herbal medicines from herbalists and manufacturers of those medicines, their representative organisations and from members of the public. Officials will be holding further meetings with the organisations involved before new regulations are finalised.

§ Mrs. Ann Winterton
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she intends to take to ensure that future European directives or European court decisions do not provide a definition of industrially produced products 27W which threatens in any way the continued availability of herbal remedies; and if she will make a statement.

§ Mr. Sackville
We are confident that we have safeguarded the position of herbal medicines in the United Kingdom, under European Community law. We will continue to work with other European Community member states and the European Commission to ensure that herbal medicines remain available to the many people in the United Kingdom who use them and to maintain existing public health safeguards.

§ Mrs. Ann Winterton
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are routinely taken by the Medicines Control Agency to ensure that in bringing forward proposals for new regulations or legislation to reflect new European directives and regulations its proposals are no more stringent than the minimum which is required; and if she will make a statement.

§ Mr. Sackville
Where the United Kingdom enters into European Community undertakings our policy is to implement fully but not to over-implement. We routinely consult industry and others with an interest in the control of medicines. This includes inviting comments on any new burdens on business. Our aim is to minimise such burdens and we take all comments into account in finalising legislation.

§ Mrs. Ann Winterton
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are taken by the Medicines Control Agency to ensure that any proposed new European directives allow the United Kingdom the greatest flexibility in the interpretation and implementation of those directives; and if she will make a statement.

§ Mr. Sackville
Where it is appropriate for the European Community to legislate, the United Kingdom seeks to ensure in negotiations that the text agreed is fully consistent with our policy objectives. The United Kingdom's policy is to implement fully our European Community undertakings, but not to over-implement.

§ Mrs. Ann Winterton
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has concerning the guidance given to the Medicines Control Agency by the deregulation unit of the Department of Trade and Industry and the extent to which the agency communicates with the unit about the drafting of proposed new regulations; and if she will make a statement.

§ Mr. Sackville
The Department of Trade and Industry has published a number of guidance documents for Departments and their agencies on deregulation. There are regular contacts between the Department of Health and the Department of Trade and Industry on deregulation issues.