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Scottish herbalists have received a wave of support from MSPs across the political spectrum following their lobby of the Scottish Parliament yesterday (10 November) over the need for proper regulation of their sector.
The herbalists were pressing for support over the current consultation by the Department of Health, which is looking at the future regulation of medical herbalists within the UK.
Herbalist Claire Mullan, who was central to organising the lobby, had the opportunity to talk to Renfrewshire MSP Bill Wilson, who said he had already completed a favourable response to the consultation document and was pleased to be able to meet with herbalists to further discuss the key issues.
Labour MSP Sarah Boyack also took time to talk to the lobbying herbalists and emphasised the need for the public to respond to the consultation document to support regulation. She said she was impressed how the herbalists had presented their case and attracted media attention during the lobby of the Scottish Parliament by dressing in period costume to emphasise how little had changed since Tudor times.
A very positive outcome also came from a discussion with Mary Scanlon MSP, Shadow Secretary for Health in Scotland, who took the time to talk to Fife based medical herbalist Keren Brynes MacLean. They discussed the possibility of hosting a reception at the Scottish Parliament so that herbalists could discuss the benefits of herbal treatments and put forward their case for regulation.
This was a welcome and positive response for the herbalists, who Mary Scanlon said, needed to maintain dialogue with MSPs and keep them informed of developments within the profession.
Herbalists south of the border have already had the opportunity to arrange a reception to discuss regulation with MPs and will be welcoming MPs to a special briefing at the House of Lords. The reception will take place this Thursday (12 November) from 6 to 8pm and will be attended by medical herbalists as well as UK herbal manufacturers and suppliers. It will give MPs the opportunity to receive a full briefing about the benefits to the public of statutory regulation.
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