KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — The National Council on Science and Technology (NCST) is to propose amendments to the Food and Drug Act to set standards for natural health drinks.

Director General of the NCST, Professor Errol Morrison, told JIS News that there are several roots drinks on the market and while they may have some health benefits, “they need to come under some kind of regulation as we need to protect the public”.

“We are drinking these, whether in tea form or drink form and we want to ensure that they meet a certain minimum standard,” he noted.

The aim is to set guidelines dealing with methods of preparation, reliability of the product, among other things.

Professor Morrison said the amendments would also incorporate healing elements, inclusive of plant, animal or mineral extracts, under one category as nutraceuticals.

“We want to identify it as a proper category,” he said.

“We are hoping that within another year, all being well, we should have the teeth to ensure that the industry meets certain minimum (standards),” the director general said.