Fwd: EU: 3 Days to Save Herbal Medicine!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Ricken Patel - Avaaz.org <avaaz@avaaz.org>
Date: Thursday, April 28, 2011
Subject: EU: 3 Days to Save Herbal Medicine!
To: "6chestnuts@googlemail.com" <6chestnuts@googlemail.com>
Dear friends,

In 3 days, the EU will ban much of herbal medicine, pressing more of
us to take pharmaceutical drugs that drive the profits of big Pharma.
The EU Directive erects high barriers to any herbal remedy that hasn't
been on the market for 30 years -- including virtually all Chinese,
Ayurvedic, and African traditional medicine. It's a draconian move
that helps drug companies and ignores thousands of years of medical
knowledge.

We need a massive outcry against this. Together, our voices can press
the EU Commission to fix the directive, push our national governments
to refuse to implement it, and give legitimacy to a legal case before
the courts. Sign below, forward this email to everyone, and let's get
to 1 million voices to save herbal medicine:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/eu_herbal_medicine_ban/?vl

It's hard to believe, but if a child is sick, and there is a safe and
natural herbal remedy for that illness, it may be impossible to find
that remedy.
On May 1st the Directive will create major barriers to manufactured
herbal remedies, requiring enormous costs, years of effort, and
endless expert processes to get each and every product approved.
Pharmaceutical companies have the resources to jump through these
hoops but hundreds of small- and medium-sized herbal medicine
businesses, across Europe and worldwide, will go bust.
We can stop this. The directive has been passed in the shadows of the
bureaucracy, and it cannot stand under the light of democratic
scrutiny. The EU Commission can withdraw or amend it, and a court case
is currently challenging it to do so. If European citizens everywhere
come together now, it will give legitimacy to the legal case, and add
to growing pressure on the Commission. Sign below, and forward this
email to everyone:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/eu_herbal_medicine_ban/?vl

There are arguments for better regulation of natural medicine, but
this draconian directive harms the ability of Europeans to make safe
and healthy choices. Let's stand up for our health, and our right to
choose safe herbal medicine.
With hope and determination,
Ricken, Iain, Giulia, Benjamin, Alex, Alice, Pascal, Luis and the rest
of the Avaaz team.

SOURCES:
EU herbal medicines law set for legal challenge:
http://www.euractiv.com/en/health/eu-herbal-medicines-law-set-legal-challenge-news-503563
European Union directive to ban natural remedies in favor of pharmaceuticals:
http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/8826364-european-union-directive-to-ban-natural-remedies-in-favor-of-pharmaceuticals
Traditional Chinese medicine firms may face delisting in EU market:
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/90883/7343301.html
EU crackdown on herbal 'remedies':
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/eu-crackdown-on-herbal-remedies-2628345.html

Please sign!