Regulation of Herbal Suppliers in the UK

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

 

Taken from the RCHM website:

http://www.rchm.co.uk/news/rchm_news.html

 

In response to the public concerns about the safety and quality of

Chinese medicines over recent years, and following advice from the

MHRA (formerly the MCA) and other interested parties, the RCHM has

developed a standards document which provides the basis for an

independent audit of quality control.

 

Suppliers on the RCHM Approved Suppliers list are those suppliers

who have satisfied certain critical quality assurance standards.

This means that an RCHM member can be assured that a herb or herb

product has come from a company that has committed itself to a

programme of Quality Development, where Quality Systems are being

introduced and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) is being taught to

employees at all levels. This gives confidence to both the RCHM

member and patients alike.

 

The RCHM now has six approved suppliers and a selection of herb

powders and products on the Approved Suppliers List. Several other

companies are due for assessment in the near future.

 

 

 

I think this is an excellent idea and long overdue. Some of the

herbal suppliers in the UK fall along way short of good quality as

they cater for the majority of TCM practitioners (Chinese) that want

it cheap cheap. I've heard of stories of bad and ilegal herbs being

rebottled and sold on in the UK. This practice has to stop. We need

to provide the best quality herbs to the public for a number of

reasons, efficacy, safety, etc. I hope other associations in other

countries will follow suit and i hope the RCHM has done their job

correctly.

 

Attilio

[Guest guest]

While the practice of selling less quality for more is very apparent during

this time period, I think this practice is very limited to a few individuals

and not representative of the majority of the profession. I would like to

point out US Congressional testimony was recently given by an FDA employee

as to the rampant corruption within this public safety administration. The

individual testified that the public is not safe as the drug companies and

FDA are working together to put out dangerous drugs. This concerns me a

great deal as the FDA is the agency that has now banned several Chinese

herbs from importation and sale. Awareness, awareness, awareness of the

public is the key to stopping this trend.

 

> " " <attiliodalberto

>Chinese Medicine

>Chinese Medicine

> Regulation of Herbal Suppliers in the UK

>Fri, 19 Nov 2004 09:14:43 -0000

>

>

>Hi all,

>

>Taken from the RCHM website:

>http://www.rchm.co.uk/news/rchm_news.html

>

>In response to the public concerns about the safety and quality of

>Chinese medicines over recent years, and following advice from the

>MHRA (formerly the MCA) and other interested parties, the RCHM has

>developed a standards document which provides the basis for an

>independent audit of quality control.

>

>Suppliers on the RCHM Approved Suppliers list are those suppliers

>who have satisfied certain critical quality assurance standards.

>This means that an RCHM member can be assured that a herb or herb

>product has come from a company that has committed itself to a

>programme of Quality Development, where Quality Systems are being

>introduced and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) is being taught to

>employees at all levels. This gives confidence to both the RCHM

>member and patients alike.

>

>The RCHM now has six approved suppliers and a selection of herb

>powders and products on the Approved Suppliers List. Several other

>companies are due for assessment in the near future.

>

>

>

>I think this is an excellent idea and long overdue. Some of the

>herbal suppliers in the UK fall along way short of good quality as

>they cater for the majority of TCM practitioners (Chinese) that want

>it cheap cheap. I've heard of stories of bad and ilegal herbs being

>rebottled and sold on in the UK. This practice has to stop. We need

>to provide the best quality herbs to the public for a number of

>reasons, efficacy, safety, etc. I hope other associations in other

>countries will follow suit and i hope the RCHM has done their job

>correctly.

>

>Attilio