Euro-Lib Dems in 11th hour bid to save herbal medicines
November 15, 2002 12:00 AM
The Liberal Democratic and Reform Party in the European Parliament, which includes all UK Lib Dem MEPs, will be joining forces next week in an effort to amend the Herbal Medicines Directive, which threatens to outlaw many herbal medicines available to buy in the high street.
West Midlands MEP Liz Lynne is working with the mover of the amendment Chris Davies to ensure that Thursday’s vote is successful. The amendment seeks to change a clause that exempts herbal medicines that have been in use for thirty years in the EU to apply to any herbal medicine that has been in use for thirty years anywhere in the world.
Commenting on the upcoming vote, Liz said:
“This directive threatens to outlaw dozens of herbal remedies such as black cohosh that people have been using with no ill effects for years, simply because they haven’t been discovered by the West until comparatively recently. As well as hurting consumer choice and forcing many shops to close, this is sheer cultural chauvinism of the most absurd kind.
“The main stumbling block with this legislation has been the governments of member states, including the UK, who are insisting on this draconian law. I hope that even at this late stage they will now see reason.”
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