Code of Practice
- Hereinafter, all references to national or local legislation shall be taken to mean any legislation, rules, or other regulations in force in the locality in which the registrant practises.
- Registrants shall display an up-to-date certificate of registration in their usual place of work and must make it available for inspection by any interested party.
- Registrants shall keep copies of the Codes of Ethics and Practice available for inspection by any interested party and make copies freely available if requested.
- Registrants must have appropriate insurance for the practice of herbal medicine, malpractice, and product liability, and shall ensure that such insurance is kept up to date.
- Registrants shall ensure that there is public liability insurance for all premises from which they work.
- Details of all treatments and prescriptions must be kept, together with records of all advice or instructions given to patients, whether in person or by e-mail, post, or telephone.
- Registrants must be conversant with all national or local legislation regarding the keeping of records. Registrants in Ireland must be familiar with the terms of the Freedom of Information Act and any legislation pertaining to the keeping of records.
- Registrants must be conversant with all national or local legislation regarding the practice and supply of herbal medicine.
- Good practice must be followed at all times in the dispensing and labelling of medicines, taking into account any national or local legislation. Unless contrary to legislation, labels must clearly state the herbalist’s or business name and address, the patient’s name, the date of dispensing, the correct dosage, and other directions for use.
- Registrants shall ensure that individualised herbal remedies are dispensed or supplied only following appropriate consultation, case-taking and professional assessment, and are selected according to the particular patient’s needs.
- Where a registrant is involved in the over-the-counter or online sale of generic herbal products, such activity shall be clearly distinguished from professional herbal practice and shall not be presented as forming part of the same clinical service or therapeutic relationship.
- Registrants shall conduct their practice, teaching, public communications and professional representation in a manner that actively reflects, supports and upholds the plant-based foundations, therapeutic principles, educational standards and stated objectives of the Register.
- Registrants shall be conversant with any national or local legislation regarding health and safety, hygiene, and the safe disposal of clinical waste.
- Registrants must be conversant with any national or local legislation concerning the treatment of minors. A parent or supervising adult must be present at all times during any treatment, consultation, or examination of a child under the age of sixteen or with a significant learning disability.
- Registrants must not knowingly administer herbal remedies to promote an abortion.