The International Ayurveda Foundation (IAF), a non-governmental organisation working for the globalisation of ayurveda, has raised its concern over the negative implications of Traditional Herbal Medicinal Product Directive (THMPD), a legislation adopted by the European Union to regulate the traditional herbal medicines.

According to the association, its immediate concern is the THMPD, which will be fully implemented in the European Union countries by 2011. The Foundation has carried out a detailed analysis of the negative implications of the legislation. It advocates that the directive will have to be addressed politically and if necessary to be fought through legal action by the government and other interested parties.

As per the Foundation, there are at least 25 million people who are used to taking various traditional systems of medicine (TSMs) in the European Union. It includes people from Asia, South East Asia, China, Africa and Middle East and a large number of white European Union citizens. It is a blatant discrimination and denial of fundamental human right to these 25 million citizens, if they are deprived of healthcare through TSMs. It is, therefore, necessary that the European Union either amend the THMPD to elude TSMs or else pass a new legislation to cover TSMs, provided the safety of medicines are assured, says the association.

According to industry sources, THMPD would impose heavy burden on the industry and can affect the market of many safe, popular and effective herbal medicines. As per the legislation no further medicinal herb products can be launched with out the THMP registration and marketing authorisation. However, existing products can remain until the transitional period ends in 2011.

As per the organisation, it will pursue in as many countries as possible the recognition of ayurveda as a distinct medical system with a unique nature of practice. IAF will assist these countries in every possible way to appreciate and recognize the unique nature of ayurveda. It will also ensure that the health policies as well as medical and pharmaceutical regimes in various countries do not discriminate against and undermine the practice and promotion of ayurveda.