Sell-through period for herbal medicines comes to an end
MHRA says unlicensed manufactured herbal medicines must be removed from retail outlets
From today (1 May), unlicensed manufactured herbal medicines without a traditional herbal registration (THR) or product licence (PL) will be banned in retail outlets across the UK.
'The public should only buy herbal medicines that they know have met standards which can be identified by the THR or PL number on the product,' said Dr Linda Anderson, from the MHRA Licensing Division. Most of the THR products also include the THR logo on the packaging, which can easily be identified.
She added: 'Natural doesn’t always mean safe. Some unlicensed herbal medicines can cause serious side effects or may interact with other medicines that a patient is taking.
'Over 300 products are now registered under the THR scheme. This provides consumers with a wide range of products from which to choose.'
Anderson said consumers also need to be aware that not all of the products they are using fall under the MHRA’s licensing system. A herbal practitioner is allowed to make up an individual preparation following a consultation. And other products can legally be sold as foods, cosmetics or general consumer products.
Over 300 products are now registered under the THR scheme
Dick Middleton, Chairman of the British Herbal Medicines Association, said the Association was pleased that sell-through of unlicensed herbal medicines to the public had come to an end.
'The availability exclusively of only regulated herbal medicines will ensure that consumers can safely choose to treat minor ailments appropriately, safe in the knowledge that they are of high quality with accompanying reliable information,' he said.
For manufactured herbal medicines that were on the UK market before April 2011, when the THR scheme was implemented, the MHRA allowed retailers to 'sell through' their stock because it was anticipated that they would be sold within the average shelf-life of these products (an 18–24 month period).
This transitional protection also allowed manufacturers additional time to bring their production up to the required standards to meet the directive. This sell-through period has now ended and companies must ensure that they comply with the legislation and remove any unlicensed herbal medicines from shelves, the MHRA said.
The MHRA has published a list of products granted a THR on its website, which can be accessed here.