France considers herbal changes
This article was originally published in OTC Bulletin & The Rose Sheet
The French Senate is considering ways to improve the country’s medicinal plants market by expanding the medicinal list of plants available OTC and liberalising distribution rules. The Senate received a report on a fact-finding mission to highlight the potential of medicinal plants and herbal remedies both in local areas in France and in the country’s overseas territories.
Increase use of plants
Key proposals among the 39 put forward in the report include positioning medicinal plants in their “rightful” place in the French healthcare system by bringing together pharmacists with increased awareness among doctors and the entire healthcare supply chain.
Medicinal plants are available in a wide range of products: from dietary supplements and plant extracts, to herbal teas and essential oils. The French natural health and beauty market is valued at more than €3 billion.
Without compromising consumer safety, proposals include a review of the list of 148 medicinal plants available for OTC sale to include plants from overseas or plants that do not pose a risk when used medicinally. In addition, also being considered is associating their traditionally recognised and established use with treatment of basic common ailments.
A quality label “Plantes de France”, should be established with a French production system based on excellence and eco-responsibility, aiming to gain international recognition. Another goal is to set aside 50% of cultivated land for organic production and to support research in agronomy as a priority, with a particular aim of anticipating the effects of climate change.
The report noted that pharmacists were well equipped through their professional training to give advice on plant/natural remedies. In addition, the number of university courses on phyto-aromatherapy has increased from one to 13 since 2000, which suggested a growing interest in this type of training among pharmacists and healthcare professionals. There may also be an opportunity for a revival in herbalist trades and the recognition of related training.
Make use of overseas opportunities
The report also recommends making the exceptional abundance of plants in overseas territories a lever for economic development in these territories. Educational courses on local plants and traditions will be established in the French overseas territories and a specialist institute will be set up to focus on research into the potential of plants in human and animal health. It is noted that overseas plants make up 80% of French biodiversity and 10% of global biodiversity.
There is also a recommendation to lift regulatory obstacles regarding hemp production for therapeutic use at a globally competitive level, irrespective of the current or future regulations covering therapeutic use of cannabis in France.
The Senate said its next step would be to consult with all interested parties on its proposals before looking at adopting new legislation.