Stop the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive

The good news is that people truly do want to maintain their right to make personal healthcare choices. Thousands of Gaia Health readers have written to their Members of European Parliament to stop the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive (Directive 2004/2/EC). Sadly, the responses have have been less than stellar. Whether through ignorance—literally believing the fraudulent wording of the Directive—or intent—actively trying to eliminate our right to choose how we manage our health—our Members of Parliament clearly are not on our side.

Because our MEPs aren't responding to us individually, we're launching a million signature petition initiative, Stop the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive, which insists that Directive 2004/2/EC (THMPC) be stopped.

What is happening in the EU Parliament that results in responses from its members that state complete denial of what's happening to our rights of access to herbs? The typical response has not been straight forward. Instead, it simply denies that the petitioner's concerns are an issue. A typical response was forwarded by Lisa Griffiths of the UK. Her MEP, Peter Skinner, responded to her message with (in part):

The aim of the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive is to ensure that this latter group of herbal remedies meets basic safety and quality standards - i.e. they should not be watered down, or contain contaminants or cheap substitute ingredients. They will also have to demonstrate their efficacy through "traditional use" i.e. through being on the market for 30 years - 15 years of which must be in Europe. In addition, any medical claims they make must be accurate.

While it sounds good, close examination shows that it's nothing more than regurgitation of the EU party line: Don't worry about it. We'll take care of you. It's for your own good. But that's not the reality. Even if it were the intention—which is certainly questionable—it presumes that we are all children without the ability to make our own decisions about our health.

The implication is that it's a simple matter to prove their efficacy and safety, either through "traditional use" or through scientific testing. Let's look at these concepts:

Traditional Use

"Traditional use" is a term without a clear meaning. It is, in fact, undefined by the THMPD. Apparently, the bar for meeting this standard is so high that hardly any have managed to meet the standard in more than six years. The reasons tend to be either high cost or a process too complex to wind through, or both.

Scientific Testing

The standard of scientific testing is simply not applicable to many herbal uses. It ignores the different philosophical approaches under which most herbal uses developed. It presumes that the only method of knowing is through modern science. While it is a system that is of great value, it does not recognize or respect other methodologies or philosophies.

Science tends to deal in statistical terms of effects on masses of people, rather than individuals, who may not respond in the same way as the masses.

The increasingly documented corruption within science, in which pharmaceutical corporations purchase the results they desire, alone causes limiting decision making about herbs to science highly questionable.

Then, there is the fact that this requirement is very costly. Since most herbal products are produced by small manufacturers, they generally don't have the financial ability to produce such studies.

Finally, there is the question of why, when most of these products have been in safe and efficacious use for a long time, often thousands of years, they should suddenly be subjected to new and onerous requirements. The products haven't changed. The only thing that's changed is the political situation.

Click Here to Sign: Stop the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive

A Matter of Rights

Ultimately, this is not simply an issue of access to herbal products. This is a matter of rights. The EU does not have the right to control every single aspect of our lives—but with the THMPD, the EU is presuming that it does.

Even if you don't have the slightest interest in using herbs to manage your health, this petition matters. If you don't want the state to interfere with and control every aspect of your life, then you need to sign it.

Click Here to Sign: Stop the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive

A Million Strong Europeans

To make this work, we need at least a million signatures. That is the threshold required to assure that a petition is heard by the European Parliament. So let's pull out the stops and go full speed ahead. Forward this article to everyone you know. Tell them why they need to sign the petition—and sign it yourself!

Click Here to Sign: Stop the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive

NOTE: We need people to translate the petition into other languages. Can you help? Please send translations (including the language) to Admin@Gaia-Health.com.

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