Role of the HMPC

The HMPC prepares the Agency's opinions on herbal substances and preparations, along with information on recommended uses and safe conditions.

This work supports the harmonisation of the European market: national competent authorities are able to refer to one unique set of information on a herbal substance or preparation when evaluating marketing applications for herbal medicines.

Establishing EU standards for national procedures

To support EU Member States, the HMPC focuses on two main tasks:

  • establishing EU monographs covering the therapeutic uses and safe conditions of well-established and/or traditional use for herbal substances and preparations;
  • drafting an EU list of herbal substances, preparations and combinations thereof for use in traditional herbal medicinal products.

Providing guidance and expert support

The HMPC and its working parties and other groups also:

The Committee was established in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 726/2004 and the Herbal Directive, which introduced a simplified registration procedure for traditional herbal medicinal products in EU Member States. The HMPC is composed of scientific experts in the field of herbal medicines. The HMPC replaced the Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products' Working Party on Herbal Medicinal Products in September 2004. For full details, see the HMPC rules of procedure and work plan.

HMPC rules of procedure

Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC): Work Plan 2024

Publication of HMPC agendas, minutes and meeting reports

The European Medicines Agency's (EMA) Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC) meets once every two months. EMA publishes the agendas, minutes and meeting reports of its plenary meetings. The HMPC meeting reports summarise the main outcomes of its meetings. EMA has been publishing the agendas and minutes of the HMPC plenaries since its September 2013 meeting. Before this, EMA only published meeting reports for the HMPC.

HMPC publication times

Agendas

Before start of Committee plenary. EMA has been publishing agendas for the HMPC since its September 2013 meeting.

Minutes

After Committee plenary where minutes are adopted.  EMA has been publishing minutes for the HMPC since its September 2013 meeting.

Meeting reports

After Committee plenary.

Useful information

HMPC meetings in 2022, 2023 and 2024

HMPC meetings in 2025 and 2026

Abbreviations used in EMA scientific committees and CMD documents, and in relation to EMA’s regulatory activities

Upcoming HMPC meetings

SEE ALL EVENTS

HMPC agendas

Agenda of the HMPC meeting 18-20 March 2024

Agenda of the HMPC meeting 29-31 January 2024

Agenda of the HMPC meeting 20-22 November 2023


HMPC minutes

Minutes of the HMPC meeting 20-22 November 2023

Minutes of the HMPC 18-20 September 2023 meeting

Minutes of the HMPC 17-19 July 2023 meeting


HMPC meeting reports

HMPC meeting report on European Union herbal monographs, guidelines and other activities - 29-31 January 2024

HMPC meeting report on European Union herbal monographs, guidelines and other activities - 20-22 November 2023

HMPC meeting report on European Union herbal monographs 18-20 September 2023


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