FDA to issue rules on herbal supplement

The FDA is considering setting up a committee to draft the regulation and it would be concluded within this year.

The regulation would be flexible and permit manufacturers to register herbal supplement products and claim health benefits on the product labels.

Vinit said only supplement products could show the health claims on the label, and that the regulation would benefit consumers.

However, he said herbal products needed research - particularly toxicological stud¬ies and clinical trials - before approval for health and medical properties could be granted.

"We need more research to answer questions about the stability and consistency of herbal products," said Vinit.

Supaporn Pitiporn, head of the pharmacy department at Chaophya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital, one of the herbal product manufacturers, said herbal manufacturers could not easily launch their products into the market because they cannot qualify the health claims of their products and inform consumers. Most consumers do not buy herbal supplement products because they do not know if there will be any health benefit to them.

"The regulation to control health claims of herbal supplement products should be flexible. This could help manufacturers launch their herbal products more easily," she said.

She added that the FDA must issue the regulation with clear details regarding registration for herbal supplements and drugs. Currently there was con¬fusion on this point, and some herbal supplement manufac¬turers had difficulty registering their products with the FDA.

by Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation