News and Comment

Duchy Originals forced to withdraw herbal product claims

23 March 2009

Duchy Originals forced to withdraw herbal product claims

Duchy Originals has been forced to change the wording on its internet adverts for the Duchy Herbals Echina-Relief Tincture and Duchy Herbals Hyperi-Lift Tincture. The Voice of Young Science (VoYS) network wrote to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in February in response to the Duchy Originals Herbal Tinctures advertising for these two products, which claimed that “[they] have been assessed - in terms of their safety, quality and efficacy”.

On the 20th March 2009, the MHRA upheld a complaint that contrary to the advertising the products had not been assessed for efficacy. A MHRA spokesman said: “Nelsons, the registration holder, on behalf of Duchy Originals agreed they would amend their advertising and remove claims of efficacy from their website and all future advertising.”

Robert Hagan from VoYS comments: “Unfortunately, there is no requirement under the Traditional Herbal Registration scheme to prove scientifically that the product works. We are pleased that the MHRA has taken to opportunity to clarify this point, but it is likely that similar misconceptions will arise in the future because these licences are being granted by a body whose role is “ensuring that medicines and medical devices work”.”

VoYS have also strongly objected to the marketing by the Prince of Wales’ company of a ‘detox’ tincture (see more information and some of the coverage here).

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