TradeReg-Symposium 2013
by Dr. Mathias Schmidt (ANME+EUAA)
From 30 September to 2 October the symposium “TradeReg 2013: Regulation of Herbal and Traditional Medicinal Products – European and global strategies” took place in Bonn (Germany). During this three-day-symposium the regulatory approaches were presented for Europe and beyond the EU borders: there were, for example, presentations on the regulatory situation of herbal medicinal products in Brazil, Japan, Canada or the United States of America.
Of course, a major emphasis went to the collected experience with the registration of traditional herbal medicinal products in Europe.In view of the current European situation many participants had hoped for answers to pressing questions, especially with respect to the transfer of unregulated food supplements to the market segment of regulated traditional medicinal products. This hope was, however, deceived: ultimately the messages gave more information on what is not possible than aids to the question how manufacturers of food supplements could make practical use the so-called facilitated registration.