EMA Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products re-elects Emiel van Galen as Chair

3 February 2023

At its January 2023 meeting, EMA’s Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC) re-elected Emiel Van Galen from the Botanicals and Novel Foods at the Medicines Evaluation Board (CBG-MEB) as its Chair for another three-year mandate.

“The work of the Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products is important as part of bringing together scientific and regulatory expertise in the area of herbal medicinal products under the roof of EMA.” said Dr van Galen. “HMPC establishes and updates EU herbal monographs to facilitate the authorisation and registration of herbal medicinal products in the Member States. EU herbal monographs also are increasingly used in mutual recognition and decentralised procedures, and these products remain relevant as self-care medicines. Moreover, the deliberations between HMPC members based on specific knowledge of herbal medicinal products have the interest of patients and consumers at their core.”

Before becoming Chair, Dr van Galen served as Vice-chair of the HMPC from January 2017 to January 2020 and has been a member of the Committee since it was established in 2004.

HMPC is the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) committee responsible for compiling and assessing scientific data on herbal substances, preparations and combinations, to support the harmonisation of the European market. HMPC prepares opinions on recommended uses and safe conditions in form of EU herbal monographs, EU list entries and other guidance documents.

The HMPC will elect a new Vice-chair at its meeting on 13-15 March 2023.