Commission announces legislation on herbal medicines 

While demand for herbal medicines is growing across the EU, there is currently no legislation at EU level.

The Commission proposes:

• asimplified registration systemfor traditional herbal medicinal products:
  • quality requirements will be identical to those for all medicinal products
  • safety and efficacy will be assessed on the basis of information gathered on its traditional use (even partially outside the EU) over a period of min. 30 years (instead of new tests)
• anew scientific committee of herbal medicine expertswill be established within the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (London)
  • its major task will be to establish monographs that further harmonise and facilitate registration applications