The Department of Health has launched a joint consultation on the Report to Ministers from the DH Steering Group on the Statutory Regulation of Practitioners of Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Other Traditional Medicine Systems Practised in the UK.

Now it seems that after almost 10 years of commitment to this important step forward, which is in the public interest, there is a very real possibility that the Government will not proceed with statutory regulation. The RCHM urges the government to carry through its clearly stated earlier committments.

If statutory regulation of herbalists does not go ahead there will be disastrous consequences for herbalists and their patients.

If you believe that the public should have access to herbal medicines, prescribed by properly trained herbalists then please see our herbal supporters briefing document to find out what you can do to protect the future of herbal medicine.
We have produced two simple guides, below, to help you to write to your MP and respond to the Consultation Document.

How to write to your MP

How to respond to the Consultation Document

The RCHM is has been puzzled as to the purpose of another consultation exercise, when an earlier DH consultation exercise elicited clear support for the statutory regulation of acupuncture, herbal medicine and TCM from a wide range of stakeholders.

The RCHM has produced a detailed draft response to the consultation, explaining that statutory regulation is vital not only in the interests of public safety, but also in order to retain the viability of Chinese herbal medicine practice and thus to preserve access to a form of medicine that is highly valued by the public.

The RCHM has been able to establish a robust form of voluntary regulation for the herbal branch of TCM practice. However, a part of the sector remains inadequately regulated and this is a critical weakness in the UK Chinese medicine landscape. Chinese herbal medicine is safe when practised by appropriately qualified practitioners, but without a framework of statutory regulation covering all practitioners in the field, the necessary overall safeguards are missing. In the interests of public safety (and there is a large public wishing to avail itself of Chinese medicine) it is imperative that this issue is now resolved by putting into effect a statutory framework for TCM practitioners.

Encouraged by government commitments and DH support, the RCHM has worked for ten years alongside other professional bodies and within the European Herbal and Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association to prepare the way for statutory regulation. The EHTPA's own response to the Consultation Document as well as their briefing paper and letters to practitioners and herbal supporters, can be read on the EHTPA's website.