Letter: Legal remedy
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Letter:
Legal remedy
Sir: Your headline "Chinese herb banned after two deaths" (29 July) is incorrect; the patients have not died but sadly suffered kidney failure.
Herbal practitioners have long advocated that the EU should adopt a new herbal directive which would allow herbal medicines to be licensed without in effect banning most herbal remedies altogether. Since herbs cannot be patented, no company could recoup the huge sums of money required by current EU medicines law (Directive 65/65 EEC) to license any previously unlicensed herbal medicine.
We support the UK government in its bid to persuade the EU to adopt a different approach to herbal medicine which could stipulate stringent quality and safety standards while taking into account the traditional use of plant medicines.
A recent official EU survey showed that 13 out of 15 member states were in breach of current EU medicines legislation when it came to regulating herbal remedies. Can it be that in this case it is the law that is an ass?
MICHAEL McINTYRE
Chairman
European Herbal Practitioners Association
Kingham,
Oxfordshire
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments