Prince Charles: Alternative medicine must be saved from new EU rules

Prince Charles is urging the Government to protect the future of alternative medicine and ensure the safety of its patients.

A long-standing enthusiast of complementary therapy, the Prince has held talks with healthSecretary Andy Burnham to persuade him to introduce safeguards for practitioners and their remedies. His call comes before a crackdown by the EU that could prevent anyone who is not a registered health practitioner from selling remedies.

The Government is consulting on the Brussels plan, due to come into force in April 2011. Campaigners are calling for a licensing system to be established earlier amid fears that small practitioners could be forced to close under the EU directive. They also want "reputable" practitioners to be licensed sooner than 2011 to protect patients.

A source close to the Prince said: "This is a very pressing issue and the Prince is very worried about the health impact of inadequately regulating herbal medicine. Regulation is needed to safeguard the public health of millions. The people who regularly use these products are not going to stop using them. This is a particular issue in London."

The Prince's intervention puts him at odds with eminent scientists who regard Chinese herbalism as "quackery". The Royal College of Physicians is against statutory regulation on the grounds it would make such treatments "respectable".

Britons spend about £1.6 billion a year on alternative remedies. There is currently no official system of regulation in the UK, meaning anyone can treat, but there are codes under which practitioners use remedies manufactured to recognisable standards.

The Prince's Foundation for Integrated Health charity has submitted evidence to the Government warning that failure to regulate will put patients at risk. Dr Michael Dixon, medical director of the foundation, said Charles did not see the submission, adding: "We fear that we will see a black market in herbal products."

The Prince's Duchy Originals range is not affected by the new EU regulations. A Clarence House spokeswoman confirmed that Prince Charles had a "routine" meeting with Mr Burnham.

Professor David Colquhoun, an expert in pharmacology at University College London, said: "The Prince wants his own ineffective sort of regulation. Proper regulation should be on whether these products work. It seems deeply unconstitutional [for him to comment]."