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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Nov 2002

Vol. 556 No. 3

Written Answers. - Medicinal Products.

Phil Hogan

Ceist:

482 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will retain the right of consumers to use safe and effective natural healthcare products which are available here for many years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19722/02]

I assume that the Deputy is referring to the availability of traditional, alternative and herbal medicinal products. I would like to inform the Deputy that my Department is not seeking to restrict availability of these medicinal products, other than in cases where there may be overriding public health considerations. On the contrary, in order to seek to ensure the continued availability of such products that are of appropriate quality and safety, my Department is currently examining proposals from the Irish Medicines Board for the control of these products, the aim of which is to provide the consumer with an assurance that the traditional medicinal products, which they buy, are: produced to an appropriate quality standard; safe under the recommended conditions of use; can be expected to be effective in the context of their established tradition of use; and are appropriately labelled.

In order to gain the most from these types of medicinal products, it is essential that they be controlled by an appropriate authority to ensure that, like all other medicinal products, they are of an appropriate quality and safe for the consumer to use. The interests of public health can best be realised when there is a formal mechanism for the assessment of these products and a subsequent means of monitoring their use in order to assure their continued safety in use.

The Deputy should be aware that a proposed EU Directive on traditional herbal medicinal products was agreed by the European Commission on 17 January 2002. This proposal has now been sent to the European Parliament and Council. I understand the Irish Medicines Board's proposal for an interim national control scheme for these products is broadly in line with the proposed EU Directive. Both the Irish Medicines Board's proposal and the proposed EU directive are currently being examined in my Department.

The Deputy may also be interested to know that, at my request, the Irish Medicines Board organised a seminar for interested parties to review the implications of its proposed scheme for the control of these products. This seminar was held in May and proved to be a useful and constructive exercise, which facilitated the exchange of information and opinions. I have also received a number of representations from various interested parties, including members of the public, all of which will be considered in the context of our ongoing examination of the IMB proposed scheme of control and the proposed EU Directive.

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