Vitex & Traditional Herbal Remedy Regulations??

[jennibel]

I was about to buy some Vitex from Just Vitamins when I saw this in red:

'*** Only available whilst stocks last ***
Unfortunately Agnus Castus can no longer be sold in the EU as a Food Supplement due to the new Traditional Herbal Remedy regulations.
We are allowed to sell-through our stocks, but once they are gone then they cannot be replenished, so we would advise that you stock up if you need to.

Anyone have any idea about this or why it can no longer be sold in the EU as a food supplement?

Agnus Castus 1000mg Tablets from Just Vitamins (http://www.justvitamins.co.uk/products/Agnus-Castus-1003.aspx?gclid=CK3gm-fkm6cCFdERfAodgzW4cg)

[coocoobananas]

I couldn't find any ( in Canada) but not sure if this was threading... Going to check back here for an answer! I just assumed I would have to buy online but maybe I won't be able to?!?

[zanacal]

That sounds familiar from when I ordered my Vitex online (from a UK company).

[rainbowflower]

I went on a sugarcraft course and they said that the new regulations meant that "edible glitter" can no longer be sold as edible glitter because the body doesn't get any nutrients out of it. That's not to say it's not edible or that it'll do any harm, just that it won't give the body any benefit.

I wonder if it's the same for vitex now.

[atomic sagebrush]

Oh, my word - I had heard some rumblings about this but I didn't think Vitex and SP would be affected, they're so commonly prescribed. Let me do some Googling and see what I find out.

[atomic sagebrush]

Oh, NO!!! This isn't good. Herbal remedies banned as new EU rules take effect | Society | The Observer (http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/may/01/new-eu-rules-on-herbal-remedies)
Frequently asked questions about EU herbal registrations and bans (http://www.anh-europe.org/news/frequently-asked-questions-about-eu-herbal-registrations-and-bans)

The deal is that products will have to be approved first and all remaining products will continue to be sold in the interim (which I knew and why I wasn't real concerned because I thought vitex and SP would totally be approved due to their wide use and safety record) but the problem is that there are so many products waiting to be approved that there may be some lag time between when a product runs out on the shelf and when it is approved for resale. if it ever is!! I can't imagine either Vitex or SP not being approved, but then again I have a hard time wrapping my brain around this entire scenario anyway!!!