Trevor Sargent
Question:259 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will request the IMB to stop classifying food supplements such as cod liver oil, royal jelly and kelp with medicines in their rulings. [17885/02]
Adjournment Debate. - Medicinal Products.
In June 2000 the Irish Medicines Board was asked to develop proposals for the licensing of "traditional and alternative medicinal products including herbal medicinal products". Under the IMB's proposed interim national licensing scheme, certain non-herbal substances such as fish oils and royal jelly can be considered to have a "traditional use" and these substances fall within the scope of the scheme "when used in medicinal products or where medicinal claims are made or inferred". However, this does not necessarily mean these substances are considered to be medicinal in all circumstances.
The IMB has also advised that Kelp is a marine plant and is therefore considered to be a herbal substance in accordance with the definition proposed in the draft EU Directive on Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products and in the IMB's proposed interim national licensing scheme.
Under the IMB's proposed scheme, the consumer will have an assurance that all registered traditional medicinal products are produced to an appropriate quality standard, safe under the proposed conditions of use, can be expected to act in accordance with an established tradition of use and are appropriately labelled. It is intended that these products will remain available for sale in pharmacies, health food stores and supermarkets.