HERBALISTS and their customers have asked Hyndburn MP Greg Pope to step into a row over health food licensing laws.

Staff at Holland and Barrett, Accrington, handed a 500-signature petition to Mr Pope claiming new rules set to be introduced imminently could sweep nearly 80 per cent of their products off the shelves.

Mr Pope has agreed to take the protest to the Department of Health, despite claiming the chain is making 'false' claims.

Holland and Barrett believe the Government's Medicines Control Agency (MCA) is set to be given new powers to relicense herbal remedies as medicines, to be sold through pharmacies.

Holland and Barrett's head office said: "The majority of herbal and vitamin products are sold under the Food Safety Act and not classed as medicines. "The proposals will lead to many of them being reclassified which will threaten products containing a mixture of herbs and nutrients, which represent up to 80 per cent of products currently available."

Accrington branch manager Michelle Riley said: "People who have been coming in here for years for herbal remedies, high strength vitamins and aromatherapy items will no longer be able to get them here.

"There is nothing unsafe about these products. This is going to deny our customers choice and could be devastating for us."

Mr Pope said: "I understand that many people are concerned about the effect of these new proposals on the availability of herbal remedies.

"As I understand it, however, they would not affect herbal remedies, which are currently exempt from licensing. This would not be altered. I am assured claims products would have to be withdrawn from the market are false. However, I will forward the petition to the Department of Health and seek reassurance this is the case."

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