EFSA’s Compendium of Botanicals is a database of botanicals that are reported to contain naturally occurring substances of possible concern for human health when present in food.
The compendium currently does not include algae, cyanobacteria and fungi; they will be considered for possible inclusion in the future.
The information in the Compendium of Botanicals can be accessed using the Botanical Summary Report.
"Botanicals and derived preparations made from plants, algae, fungi or lichens have become widely available on the EU market in the form of food supplements. Examples include ginkgo, garlic, St. John’s Wort and ginseng. Such products are typically labelled as natural foods and a variety of claims are made regarding their possible health benefits. They can be bought over the counter in pharmacies, supermarkets, specialist shops and via the internet. While most of these products have a long history of use in Europe, some concerns exist about their safety and quality. These include the risk of chemical or microbiological contamination and the need to ensure that concentrations of bioactive agents are within safe limits.