REGULATION OF HERBALISTS AND THE TRADITIONAL HERBAL MEDICINAL PRODUCTS DIRECTIVE

That this House notes that thousands of consumers annually seek treatment from practitioners of herbal therapies and that Ministers are considering whether such practitioners should be statutorily regulated; furthernotes that such regulation would enhance consumer protection whilst maintaining consumer choice; observes that regulation would also permit herbalists under relevant European legislation to commission specific herbal remedies to be manufactured for their clients and so avoid the prohibition of such unlicensed specialist herbal products from April 2011 when the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive is fully implemented; and urges Ministers to bring forward statutory regulation without delay to enhance patient protection and secure consumer and practitioner access to safe and popular herbal remedies.