Herbal Medicines and Homoeopathy
Closing the case of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs)
In recent years, AESGP has worked extensively on pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) and, in 2021, presented the results of its annual assessment of data on PA values in herbal medicines and extracts, as collected annually by the German herbal medicines industry.
The results showed that a limit of 1.0 µg PA/day was considered safe and AESGP welcomed the subsequent revision, in August, of the Public Statement on the use of herbal medicinal products containing toxic and unsaturated pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which confirmed the threshold of 1 mcg PA/day. This recommendation came as a relief and successfully closed the work of AESGP in this area.
Gathering experts on homoeopathic issues
AESGP has set up an expert group on homoeopathic medicines under the Herbal Medicinal Products Committee (HMPC) to allow more regular and targeted exchanges on homoeopathic medicinal products. AESGP also responded to EMA’s Homeopathic Medicinal Products Working Group (HMPWG) consultations and, together with other concerned European organisations, will further interact with the HMPWG.