About 6 years ago the UK manufacturers’ national trade body set up a herbal committee. The aim was to help establish a framework for manufacturers of herbal supplements to safeguard consumers and to make certain they could manufacture herbal products for long into the future.

After a few months the Department of Health told them not to waste their time; an EU Directive on herbal medicine was on the horizon and anything which was decided by this committee was irrelevant.

Voted on by pharmaceutical companies, moulded by drug law, the Directive was incorporated into UK law in 2005 and will bite in 2011. It’s full name is: ‘The Herbal and Medicinal Products Directive’ – or THMPD.

It will make 75% or more of herbal products on the UK market illegal. The licenses required will be horrendously expensive and beyond the reach of most companies.

There is NOTHING which can be done to stop it.

Change Of Direction

Companies involved will have three choices:

1. Go out of business. I know of at least three company owners who are talking of retirement. They are sick and tired of the hassle of constantly battling against the authorities.
2. Start selling products which other people have licensed. Someone licenses a product – almost certainly a single herb, such as valerian. Costs them £50,000 in total. They can then sell it to other manufacturers to sell on. Small manufacturers end up having a small range of boring single-herb products – the same as everyone else’s. Large manufacturers – such as drug companies – can afford to license whatever they think they can make money out of.
3. Diversify. Extend the range of herbs which fall under food law and so don’t need a license. Add in other products which are under food law – eg bowel flora, omega 3 oils, ’superfood’.

Who Can I Lobby?

Some people want to lobby the authorities. I applaud that; but I have been lobbying for 6 years. I am having dinner with a leading UK MEP tonight who has written letters on my behalf.

You feel you are doing something – but it gets nowhere. That has been the sum total of the last 6 years of many hours of energy.

The vibrant UK herbal industry has been sold down the river by the EU at the prompting of the pharmaceutical industry – one of the largest industries in the world. They are laughing on the sidelines.

The only real way forward is to leave the EU – which would happen if we had a referendum (slim chance). If we left, we could at least lobby our own government. Lobbying the EU is a complete waste of time – we are a small lone voice against herbal regulation. The other EU countries are compliant as herbal freedom is something they have not enjoyed for centuries.

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