a non-conspiracy by the government.
Jan. 26th, 2005 01:25 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bunnyjadwigaSomeone asked me about a rumor that the Codex Alimentarius group of the World Health Organization / World Trade Organization is going to be putting in place regs that would affect the sale of herbs (simples, or mixed).
As far as I can find out, there is nothing going on from that committee that would effect direct to the consumer sales of herbs as herbs. The referenced Codex alimentarius reports/legislation only effect items *marketed* as mineral/herbal supplements. In other words, it would effect, say, St.John's Wort pills, but not dried or fresh St. John's wort unless it's marketed as an 'vitamin or mineral supplement'.
The report is here: http://www.codexalimentarius.net/download/report/627/al05_26e.pdf
and the guidelines start on page 42 (p. 47 of the pdf).
Again, it looks like it only applies to vitamins and mineral supplements. I couldn't find anything that even vaguely looked like what the poster was concerned about-- the only thing I saw was a recommendation that a maximum safe daily dose be established and put on the packaging-- the scare story claimed that anything over the RDA would be available only by prescription, which certainly isn't ANYWHERE there. The regulation also specifically says this covers materials that are 'regulated as foods,' so it doesn't change the status of such supplements from food to drug.
The discussion report from Codex Alimentarius was at:
http://www.codexalimentarius.net/download/report/34/al04_26e.pdf
I hate to say it, but this looks to me like someone in the Supplements industry is attempting to scare people. They reference these reports, and then claim that those reports say things that aren't in the reports and guidelines. Admittedly, I don't have a heck of a lot of use for the herbal supplement companies, but I have some experience chasing down things like this.
As far as I can find out, there is nothing going on from that committee that would effect direct to the consumer sales of herbs as herbs. The referenced Codex alimentarius reports/legislation only effect items *marketed* as mineral/herbal supplements. In other words, it would effect, say, St.John's Wort pills, but not dried or fresh St. John's wort unless it's marketed as an 'vitamin or mineral supplement'.
The report is here: http://www.codexalimentarius.net/download/report/627/al05_26e.pdf
and the guidelines start on page 42 (p. 47 of the pdf).
Again, it looks like it only applies to vitamins and mineral supplements. I couldn't find anything that even vaguely looked like what the poster was concerned about-- the only thing I saw was a recommendation that a maximum safe daily dose be established and put on the packaging-- the scare story claimed that anything over the RDA would be available only by prescription, which certainly isn't ANYWHERE there. The regulation also specifically says this covers materials that are 'regulated as foods,' so it doesn't change the status of such supplements from food to drug.
The discussion report from Codex Alimentarius was at:
http://www.codexalimentarius.net/download/report/34/al04_26e.pdf
I hate to say it, but this looks to me like someone in the Supplements industry is attempting to scare people. They reference these reports, and then claim that those reports say things that aren't in the reports and guidelines. Admittedly, I don't have a heck of a lot of use for the herbal supplement companies, but I have some experience chasing down things like this.
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no subject
Date: 2005-01-26 05:16 am (UTC)