Licensing herbal medicinal products
According to the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive website:
"The European legislation regarding herbal medicines has undergone significant changes over the last few years. As of 2011, herbal medicines will require full licensing throughout the European Union. In any European country after this date it will be illegal to sell or supply any herbal medicine that have not been licensed.
Especially in markets with the most drastic legislative impact, like the UK and Ireland, where herbal medicines were previously mainly unlicensed, competitive advantages exist for manufacturers with established high-quality products: in the registration process itself and also in obtaining a substantial market share. Any herbal products which are not complying with the new regulations will be taken off the shelves".
More information can be found from the THMPD webiste.