Manufacturing

Europe is the global centre of expertise for the manufacture of homeopathic and anthroposophic medicinal products. The sector produces 100 million units of finished products each year, requiring sophisticated expertise to meet complex quality requirements.

Typically, the starting materials for these products are mineral, plant (dried or fresh) and animal substances. Prescribers need 3,000 distinct source materials for the proper practice of these therapies and some manufacturers source as many as 2,000 starting materials, mostly from biological origin, from over 100 different suppliers. 

ECHAMP member companies manufacture 1.5 million distinct finished products with different potencies and dosage forms, in big, medium, small and very small batches. At least 7% of finished products are produced in individual batches on demand for individual patients.

Licensed homeopathic and anthroposophic medicinal products meet the highest standards for quality and safety and are produced according to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) as stipulated by the World Health Organisation and in European and national pharmaceutical legislation. 

For further information

• Michels et al., Safety, pharmacovigilance and appropriate information for patients of homeopathic medicinal products, Pharmazeutische Industry 80(11):1473-1480, 2018