MEPs want protection of rural communities providing traditional natural ingredients for personal care products

The European Parliament has called for European Union (EU) law to insist companies declare ingredients based on natural health remedies used by traditional rural communities when seeking legal protections for products with these inputs. A resolution also called for these companies to show consent from authorities in a provider country for using such ingredients and to share profits with source communities.

The resolution’s author, Green MEP Catherine Grèze said: “Our rules for using natural resources and traditional knowledge are very ill-defined and companies exploit this legal uncertainty to use traditional knowhow.” The motion criticised a failure to enforce international agreements protect traditional communities from such exploitation.