Majority Say Herbal Medicines Should Be Regulated

A recent Ipsos MORI report shows that 77% of adults agree that it is important that herbal medicines are regulated.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) commissioned a programme of research by Ipsos MORI to identify the public’s view on herbal medicines. The report sought opinion on safety issues arising from usage, the regulation of herbal products and how the public obtains information about herbal medicines. The research involved both quantitative surveys and discussion group discussions.

Historically, in the UK, most herbal medicines have been unlicensed. In 2005 the MHRA launched the new Traditional Herbal Registration Scheme (THR) which means herbal medicines now have to be made to assured standards of safety, quality and patient information. Companies with existing unlicensed herbal medicines on the market have until 2011 to register them with the Agency.

Richard Woodfield, Group Manager for Herbal Medicines at the MHRA explained: ‘We welcome the findings of this research. The research shows that the public clearly see a need for herbal medicines to be regulated. So it is encouraging that the MHRA has already received 53 applications to register products under the THR scheme and that 25 products have so far been registered’.

He added, ‘However, we are not complacent and acknowledge that the research also shows that the MHRA has challenges ahead. 58% of recent users of herbal medicines (defined as those who have used a herbal medicine within the last 2 years) agree with the statement that “herbal medicines are safe because they are natural”. This means that the public still remains vulnerable to some of the less responsible operators who peddle low grade, and sometimes, dangerous herbal products - portraying them as natural and safe whilst failing to meet any meaningful standards of safety, quality and consumer information.’

Here are some of the key findings from the Ipsos MORI survey;-

General public usage of herbal medicines

• 35% of adults have used a herbal medicine, and 26% of adults have used a herbal medicine in the past two years.

• Usage of herbal medicines is higher among women and among those from higher social groups AB (higher or intermediate managerial, administrative or professional occupations), compared with men and those in lower social groups D and E (semi and unskilled manual workers and those on a state pension).

• 77% of users of over-the-counter (OTC) herbal medicines have used an OTC herbal medicine within the past two years.

Perceptions of risk

• 89% of respondents who have used herbal medicines in the last two years feel that most herbal medicines are safe to take.

• 58% of respondents who have used herbal medicines in the past two years agree with the statement that “herbal medicines are safe because they are natural”.

• 67% of respondents who have used herbal medicines in the last two years agree that it is necessary to tell your GP if you are taking herbal medicine, while 22% of this group feel that telling your GP is not necessary.

Regulation

• 29% of British adults believe herbal medicines are currently regulated in the UK whereas 31% believe they are not and 30% don’t know. The remaining 10% believe that some herbal medicines are regulated, and some are not.

• 77% of adults agree it is important that herbal medicines are regulated, with this figure rising to 87% among regular users of herbal medicines (defined as those who have used a herbal medicine within the last 2 years).

Features of regulation that British adults feel are particularly important include:-

• a check that ingredients are safe before the product is allowed to be sold (83% of all adults saying this is either ‘essential’ or ‘very important’);

• a check that the manufacturer has quality controls to ensure the product contains what it says on the label and a leaflet explaining how to use the product and any likely side effects (84% and 83% respectively saying that these are either ‘essential’ or ‘very important’).

Information

Doctors have been used as a source of information about the risks or benefits of herbal medicines by just under 1 in 5 (17%) of British adults. Relatively informal sources of information about herbal medicines are also widely used, as are pharmacists. This includes family (15%), friends, colleagues and workmates (13%), pharmacists (9%), herbal or traditional medicine practitioners (8%), sales assistants in herbal medicine retail outlets (7%).

Sources that British adults are most likely to trust for accurate information about the risks and benefits of herbal medicines are doctors (41%) and pharmacists (23%).

The UK traditional herbal registration scheme was launched in 2005 which requires products to meet assured standards of safety, quality and patient information. There is a transitional period for some existing unlicensed products until 2011. Regulated products distinguished by their traditional herbal registration (THR) number on the packaging are progressively coming onto the UK market.

As of December 2008 the MHRA had received 53 applications to register products under the scheme and had so far registered 25 products. There also continues to be available licensed herbal medicines, shown by the PL number, which MHRA meet assured standards.

Historically, most over the counter herbal medicines in UK have been sold as unlicensed herbal remedies under s12(2) of the Medicine Act 1968. This regime provided the public with little protection against low grade products. Repeated examples were found on the UK market of dangerous products eg containing heavy metals, undeclared pharmaceutical substances or the wrong, toxic herb.

Technical details of the report

This program of research involved both qualitative and quantitative research among British adults. The details of each stage of the research project are as follows:

General Public Qualitative Research: four discussion groups were conducted between 8 and 10 July 2008 at two locations; one in the North (Stockport) and one in the South (Croydon) of England. Two groups were conducted in each location, one with users, and one with non-users of herbal medicines.

General Public Quantitative Research: Questions were placed on the Ipsos MORI Omnibus. A nationally representative quota sample of 2,305 adults (aged 15 and over) was interviewed in 197 sampling points throughout Great Britain. Interviews were carried out face-to-face in respondents’ homes. Fieldwork was conducted between 5 and 11 September 2008. Data are weighted to match the profile of the Great Britain adult population.

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