THMPD implementation

UK medicines regulator slams door on herbal food supplements

By Shane Starling at #FIE2013 in Frankfurt, Germany

- Last updated on GMT

Alliance for Natural Health International: "This will likely cause the loss from the market of food supplement products that have no quality or safety concerns"
Alliance for Natural Health International: "This will likely cause the loss from the market of food supplement products that have no quality or safety concerns"

Related tags European union United kingdom Mhra

Botanical food supplements deemed medicinal have less than six months to achieve herbal medicines status or be removed from shelves in the UK – but the sector says the law remains unclear.

The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) this morning announced the April 2014 deadline, citing safety concerns in firmly enforcing the 2004 Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive (THMPD).

“Natural doesn’t always mean safe and some unlicensed herbal products can be harmful and some may have serious side effects,”​ said Dr Linda Anderson from the MHRA’s Licensing Division.

“It is now nearly ten years since the implementation of the [THMPD]. Companies have had this time to bring products up to appropriate standards and apply for a [THMPD] registration.”

Dr Robert Verkerk, executive and scientific director of the Alliance for Natural Health International (ANH-I), said despite the action, the food-medicine borderline remained unclear, along with the MHRA’s position on it.

"There is still a real lack of clarity as to what constitutes an unregistered herbal medicine versus a legal botanical food supplement,”​ Dr Verkerk told us this morning.

“The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has developed some useful case law on this, but different EU member states, including the UK, have run rough-shod across these precedents.”

“Many companies that have long histories of selling high-quality botanical food supplements that have never been associated with adverse events are left in a quandary as to how the MHRA will respond to them, especially after the 'sell-through' expires next year.”

Market constriction?

Echinacea purpurea

Dr Verkerk said the picture was further complicated by a food supplement exemption that remained in the law - Section 12(2) of the 1968 Medicines Act.

“But if recent determinations by the MHRA are anything to go by, it seems likely that the MHRA will further step up its enforcement operations next year. This will likely cause the loss from the market of food supplement products that have no quality or safety concerns, as well as significantly reduced consumer choice."

The THMPD became active in April 2011, but its market implementation has differed among the EU’s 28 member states, giving products sell-through periods.

From FIE, Jean-Christophe Mano, executive manager at French firm Pharmanager agreed with Dr Verkerk that EU law implied the maintenance of a dual route to market, and he noted that the precedent had been established in Spain and other EU member states.

An MHRA consultation on the matter can be found here​.

Related news

Show more

Related products

show more

Prebiocran™, the new gut health solution

Prebiocran™, the new gut health solution

Content provided by Diana Food | 24-May-2023 | Research Study

Symrise is launching Prebiocran™, a 100% cranberry extract in powder designed to fit most of dietary supplement applications thanks to a low dosage: only...

Living through the menopause comfortably

Living through the menopause comfortably

Content provided by Robertet Health & Beauty | 27-Apr-2023 | Product Brochure

Menopause is a natural event in a woman's life often perceived as a time characterized by gains and losses.

The experience is associated...

Kalita®: taking bergamot extract to the next level

Kalita®: taking bergamot extract to the next level

Content provided by Giellepi SpA | 04-Apr-2023 | White Paper

Due to its cardiometabolic benefits, a number of bergamot extracts have been manufactured over the years using different extraction technologies aimed...

Related suppliers

2 comments

Safety extremists again

Posted by Kev Richards,

This is another reason to leave the EU. Which health foods have they found to be dangerous? Peanuts can be very dangerous. Lets ban peanuts. By so doing at least one life will probably be saved. Stupid and unnecessary.But nobody in the EU listens to its citizens.

Report abuse

speedwinds1

Posted by speedwinds1,

Food supplements have increasingly become attractive alternatives to prevent or treat Mood problems and depression. The natural herbal food supplements, Herbal and dietary supplements are commonly used throughout the World to improve their personality and to over come the health problems.

Report abuse

Follow us

Products

View more

Webinars