Shop owner slams new law to ban certain herbal medicines

NEW EU legislation that could see hundreds of herbal medicines banned will mean many islanders will no longer be able to buy remedies they have used for years, according to a Guernsey health food shop owner.

The European Union Traditional Herbal Medical Directive is being adopted by Guernsey and the UK and will effectively ban many herbal products.

The legislation, due to come in on 1 May, means all herbal medicines will have to be licensed to be sold across the EU or prescribed by a registered herbal practitioner.

Herbal medicines will have to meet the same licensing requirements for safety and quality as those for pharmaceutical drugs, which herbal practitioners have said is impossible due to the cost of testing. (from GEP)