Bernard Allen
Question:157 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make a statement on a situation where the Irish Medicines Board is considering making herbal teas available only on prescription. [20352/01]
Written Answers. - Herbal Teas.
I am advised by the Irish Medicines Board that it has never considered making a recommendation that herbal teas should only be available on prescription. Its ad hoc scientific committee on herbal medicines has, inter alia, reviewed the position of herbal teas and has advised that some of these might require to be licensed under a possible national licensing scheme which is being formulated. This does not mean that they would necessarily require a prescription and this has been pointed out by the board to any interested parties who have inquired.