REGULATION OF NATURAL HEALTH PRODUCTS

Early day motion 202, tabled 15 December 1999 by Mark Todd (Labour). Signed by 60 members.

That this House notes the increasing popularity of a wide range of safe natural health products, including herbal remedies and vitamin and mineral supplements; further notes that such products are required by the Food Safety Act 1990 and the Medicines Act to be safe; observes, however that many such products, including a wide range of safe and popular multi-ingredient products currently on the market, were not envisaged or adequately provided for by the distinct categories of food or medicine defined by existing legislation; is aware of pressure upon the Medicines Control Agency to be more proactive in policing the borderline between foods and medicines; and fearing that this could lead to the classification of many natural health products as medicines requiring product licences which are too expensive and difficult to obtain, invites the Secretary of State for Health to undertake a review of the law in this area and, specifically, to consider the proposals for a new third category of product particularly for herbal remedies, that has been jointly produced by the Health Food Manufacturers Association, the Council for Responsible Nutrition, the Proprietary Association of Great Britain and the Natural Medicines Manufacturers Association.

Signatures by party: Labour 34, Liberal Democrat 11, Conservative 6, Labour/Co-operative 5, Plaid Cymru 2, UUP 2.