Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 391: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the changes, if any, that have taken place with respect to herbal remedy products, and alternative medicines from 30 April 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10609/11]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive (2004/24/EC) of 2004 was transposed into Irish Law through the Medicinal Products (Control of Placing on the Market) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 540 of 2007).

These Regulations put in place a Traditional Herbal Medicines Registration Scheme to ensure the safety and efficacy of these products to consumers. This simplified registration scheme ensures that these products must be able to show proven standards of quality and evidence of efficacy and safety, and also must be supplied with detailed directions as to their safe use by consumers. An exceptionally long transition period of 7 years allowing for the registration of traditional herbal medicines already on the market ended on 30/04/2011. The Irish Medicines Board (IMB) is the Competent Authority for the registration process.