To inform the design of a registration system for herbal medicines (HMs) in Kuwait, which does not produce but imports all HMs, the drug regulatory authorities’ approaches to HM regulation were compared in five countries.

There was a lack of consistency in the definition of what constitutes an HM, and how these are assessed, reviewed and regulated.

Some drug regulatory authorities, USA in particular, do not assess dietary supplements prior to marketing, which has implications for regulatory systems in a country like Kuwait where review currently depends on how a HM is defined and regulated in the source country.