Homeopathy and the consolidation of UK medicines legislation - Commons Library Standard Note

Published 18 September 2012 | Standard notes SN06350

Authors: Oliver Bennett

Topic: Diseases, Health services, Medical ethics, Medicine

In August 2012 UK medicines legislation (including for homeopathy) was consolidated through the Human Medical Regulations. The law was not changed.

Some homeopathic practitioners are concerned that the law will now be enforced. They believe that this could constrain some homeopathic practices. They are seeking a change in UK law.

It is not clear that the requested change in the law is possible at the UK level. Such changes might have to be negotiated at EU level.

In 2010 the Science and Technology Select Committee examined Government policy on homeopathy. It found that homeopathic products are placebos, it questioned whether their use in the NHS was ethical and it called for changes to their regulation. The report received vociferous support and opposition from a number of groups. The Government responded that it agreed with “many” of the Committees conclusions, but it rejected substantive changes to regulation or policy.

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