UK Comes Down on People Selling Herbs With License

March 4, 2011

A 48-year-old man was sentenced yesterday to six months' imprisonment suspended

for two years and 200 hours of unpaid work for selling and supplying herbal

medicines to the public without a marketing authorisation.

Ramchandre Damle of Southall, Middlesex, pleaded guilty to three counts of

selling and supplying the medicinal products, 'DBCare', 'BControl' and 'SX

Power'.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) issued a warning

to the public about DBCare in 2008 as it claimed it could allow patients to stop

taking their prescribed diabetic medication.

This case came to the attention of the MHRA after we received a complaint

concerning an advertisement in the publication, 'Pravasi Times', which contained

a website operated by Ace Continental Exports Ltd.

The MHRA reviewed the three medicines in question to determine they were

relevant medicinal products, then ordered the company to withdraw them from

sale. However, further investigation revealed that they had not been withdrawn

and the company was in possession of quantities of all three drugs which were

intended to be placed on the market.

Invoices provided by Mr Damle disclosed that the income received by the company

for unauthorised sales of each product from 2005 to 2008, totalled approximately

£70,000. The court has been invited to consider making a confiscation order

against Mr Damle.

MHRA Head of Herbal Medicine Policy, Woodfield, said, " This case is an

example of very poor practice in part of the unlicensed herbal sector and shows

the risk that can arise where serious unauthorised claims are made for

unlicensed herbal products.

" In contrast, the public can be assured that herbal medicines registered under

the Traditional Herbal Registration scheme meet the assured standards of safety

and manufacture, and that they come with authorised information for consumers

about the safe use of the product. "

MHRA Head of Operations, Danny Lee-Frost said, " The conscious supply of

dangerous products such as these proves that some individuals and companies will

blatantly flout regulations in order to make money.

" They have no consideration for their customers' health nor are they healthcare

professionals. Their only motivation is financial gain. "

FYI,

Lottie Duthu

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