HERBAL MEDICINES

Early day motion 9, tabled 13 November 2002 by Liam Fox (Conservative). Signed by 85 members.

That this House expresses concerns about the continued proposals for a Directive on Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products, which fails to safeguard the future availability in the United Kingdom of safe herbal remedies, which are currently on sale, but exempt from licensing as medicines; notes that the proposed directive unreasonably requires 30 years' continuous medical usage to obtain a licence, unrealistically demands immediate compliance with technical requirements more suited to pharmaceuticals and excludes many safe and popular products; and calls on the Government to make vigorous efforts to secure amendments to the proposal so as to protect consumers' choice and the livelihood of many hundreds of health food retailers.

Signatures by party: Conservative 63, Labour 8, Liberal Democrat 6, UUP 4, DUP 2, Independent Conservative 1, Scottish National Party 1.