Greens condemn proposed "Health Food Hijack" by Irish Medicines Board!

The proposed interim legislation on traditional medicine will lead to many health foods being withdrawn from sale and others being put on prescription. It may mean that some health food stores will be forced to close and that jobs will be lost.

The deadline for submissions by interested parties is 27th December.

According to Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca:
"We feel that the consultation process for the proposed legislation is totally inadequate. It is taking place in the run up to Christmas. We are calling on the Minister for Health to extend this deadline to allow all interested parties, including members of the public, to have their say, without having to interrupt their Christmas dinners."

Councillor de Burca went on to say;
"We feel that the Irish Medicines Board is not properly constituted to cope with Health Food or Herbal Remedies. The board is designed to deal with the pharmaceutical industry and receives most of its funding from that sector. Many of its' members would be familiar with pharmaceuticals but few of them would be familiar with herbs."

"We believe that a separate organisation needs to be set up to regulate health food. One that does not depend on the pharmaceutical industry for it's funding and one that has sufficient expertise to properly regulate the sector."

"After the St. Johns Wort debacle, where a popular herbal remedy was effectively banned in this country on spurious grounds, one has to seriously question whether this is more about the pharmaceutical industry protecting its profit margins than any real attempt at regulation."

For further information please contact Deirdre de Burca on 086 8061450 or email deburca@wicklowgreens.org.