Traditional herbal medicines – information for retailers

Herbal products that contain active substances in sufficient amounts to have a medicinal effect are medicinal products. Herbal products that claim to treat or prevent disease are also medicinal products.

The marketing of medicinal products in Ireland is regulated by the HPRA. A herbal medicinal product cannot be placed on the Irish market unless it has been granted either a marketing authorisation or, in the case of a traditional herbal medicinal product (or THMP for short), a certificate of traditional-use registration, by the HPRA. The packaging of these products will display either a PA number (for products with a marketing authorisation) or a TR number (for THMPs).

A list of all currently authorised medicines for which a marketing authorisation has been granted is available on our Find a medicine page. 

THMPs are subject to a simplified registration procedure. A THMP:

• must be intended and designed for use without the advice of a doctor
• must be taken orally or be for external use or for inhalation
• must not be administered by injection

For the full list of THMPs currently registered by the HPRA, click on this link Traditional Herbal Medicines (hpra.ie)

For both lists, clicking on the name of a product will open a page. The supply status of the product (pharmacy only or general sale) and the product information is displayed or included on this page.

Further information

General queries in relation to herbal medicinal products should be submitted via our online contact form.