Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-11-20-Speech-3-328"
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"en.20021120.10.3-328"2
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"Mr President, although modern pharmacology and synthetic medicines enjoy uncontested status, herbal medicines are still important for human health and welfare. On the other hand, it must not be imagined that natural substances cannot be a great danger to health when they are abused or prepared without care. Finding just the right sort of balance is a challenge for us, and I am convinced that my colleague Mr Nisticò, to his credit, has done so in his report.
Stringent quality and safety standards should be set for herbal medicinal products and clear labelling and instructions are required. The instructions must contain information on the potential toxicity of the substances and their interaction with food, drink or other medicinal products. In addition, for herbal medicines to be authorised for sale on the market the same practices have to apply, where possible, as with synthetic medicines. This is not meant as an attack on traditional medical remedies: on the contrary, the goal is to ensure there is a safe framework within which the herbal medicine industry can thrive in the Europe-wide market. Entrepreneurs in the sector will profit as the market grows and reputations are protected, and consumers will gain in terms of safety and price.
The rapporteur raises some problems that have been encountered with irresponsible manufacturers, especially in third countries. Toxic vegetable substances or poisons such as arsenic and mercury, or other medicinal substances such as hormones, have been found in medicinal products. When there is such indifference combined with good faith on the part of the consumer, human lives are in danger. People associate herbal medicines with something natural, good and safe, and they do not imagine that if the dose is wrong or if there is any other form of abuse this can cause serious harm and even death, or that there may be serious problems of quality with the product.
The European Parliament is now promoting a worthy human tradition: herbal remedies. Mr Nisticò’s report lays down for this safe and clear limits within which the industry can flourish and succeed."@en1
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