Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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140. To ask the Minister for Health the reason vitamin B17 is not available to purchase here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43456/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Under Irish and European medicines legislation any product which claims to treat a medical condition must be authorised as a medicine by the European Medicines Agency or the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) before being placed on the market.

Vitamin B17, or Amygdalin, is not authorised as a medicine for sale or supply on the Irish market. The supply of this product by mail order, including through online sources, is also prohibited.

Claims that Amygdalin has beneficial effects for the treatment of cancer are not supported by the clinical data and there is a considerable risk of serious adverse effects. Patients are therefore strongly advised not to attempt to source this product via the internet and should discuss questions regarding treatment with their doctor.