The madness knows no bounds! Access to humble peppermint may be at risk in the EU.

by Heidi Stevenson

12 November 2010

In its ongoing efforts to make absolutely certain that every aspect of every person's life is controlled in the minutest detail, the European Union is examining every herb to determine whether there's even the slightest hint of a chance it might be either harmful or useful. To this end, peppermint has been classified as a controllable medicinal herb.⁽¹⁾

That sounds like the start of a farce, of an article meant to be a joke. It isn't. It has really happened. The EU has listed Mentha x piperita, common peppermint, for regulation as a medicinal herb. The only thing that could make this worse would be for someone to claim that it can be of benefit in a serious disease.

Oops! We may have a problem. Peppermint is known to be beneficial in irritable bowel syndrome and spastic conditions of the bile duct, both of which might be considered serious conditions. Conveniently, the EU has not defined the term "serious condition", so we can't yet be sure.

If either irritable bowel syndrome or spastic condition of the bile duct is seen as a serious condition, then peppermint could be banned. The EU's Traditional Medicinal Herbal Products Directive will not allow herbs to be sold for "serious" conditions.

Once existing stocks have been sold after next April Fool's Day, the EU may not allow its sale as a beneficial herb. At a minimum, EU citizens will not be able to purchase it in a form intended for medicinal use for any serious condition or for any minor condition unless each manufacturer goes through a prohibitively expensive and draconian procedure to prove that their particular version is both safe and efficacious.

The individual who grows peppermint-or any other herb-and sells it in any form will be breaking the law, unless that person is exceedingly wealthy and able to jump through the hoops that the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) require.

If the procedure is too complicated to understand, then you can purchase documentation on how to negotiate the process for a mere £250 or $395.

After April Fool's Day, if you grow herbs in the garden, then process them into oils or teas or simply sell the dried leaves, you will be breaking the law...unless you have the finances and will to submit to the MHRA rules.

Is this the world you want? Are you willing to give up your right to manage your health as you see fit? Are you willing to allow a pharmaceutical-controlled agency to determine whether you may sell or have access to herbs? If that's what you want, then do nothing.

However, if you want to see this draconian direction stopped, then please, sign the Stop the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive petition. The EU has not made it easy to petition the government for changes in laws or directives or procedures. They require that a petition have at least a million signatures before it can be presented.

Let's give them a wake-up call! Let's get those signatures! Let's assure that the EU comes to realize that this is not something we're willing to accept, that we will stand together and Stop the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive!