Antidote to poisonous EU prescription

Thursday, February 17 2011

West Midlands MEP Mike Nattrass has welcomed news that Britain is set to administer a strong antidote to a poisonous EU prescription which would have banned the sale of hundreds herbal remedies in the UK.

UKIP MEP Mike Nattrass, who last month warned the new EU regulations could lead to patients buying potentially dangerous products online or from the black market, says he is delighted that Britain is set to defy the ban.

The Traditional Herbal Medicinal Directive, which is due to come into force on May 1, traditional herbal medicinal products would have to be licensed or prescribed by a registered herbal practitioner.

The Alliance for Natural Health (ANH) estimated the cost of obtaining a license would be in the region of £80,000 and £120,000 per herb.

But, now following intense campaigning by UKIP and organisations such as the ANH, the Government has announced it will dodge the directive and instead reclassify herbalists as authorised healthcare professionals.

Welcoming the move Mike Nattrass MEP said: “Complying with this directive would have pushed many herbal practitioners out of business.

“Many long used traditional herbal remedies would have been banned as a result of the ridiculous regulations which I fear may have resulted in patients buying potentially dangerous products from backstreet sources or online. I welcome news that Britain is to defy this ban.

“We should regulate our own healthcare services and not be dictated to by weedy Eurocrats and right herbs in Brussels,” he added.