Verdict Turkish leeches do not grow as medicines

Federal Administrative Court tilts strict entry requirements of Bavaria
Turkish leeches do not virtually grow as medicines. For this they are only through a several months of quarantine and microbiological controls in Germany, judged on Thursday, August 17, 2017, the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig (Az .: 3 C 12.16). For import, neither an import permit nor a certificate under the German Medicines Act is required.

The leech therapy can be very effective for swelling in the foot area. (Image: Dmitriy Syechin / fotolia.com)

Leeches have been used for centuries in medicine, earlier especially for the so-called bloodletting (blood withdrawal). Among other things, their saliva is said to have an anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant effect, for example in osteoarthritis or rheumatism. The predominant use is the Mediterranean medicinal leech. The up to ten centimeters long annelid worms feed on the blood of fish, newts and frogs, partly also of mammals, such as wild boars.

The Federal Administrative Court was dealing with a Bavarian company that sells leeches for use in medicine. They grow wild in Turkey, are caught and then exported to Germany.

For importation, the Free State of Bavaria required an import permit from a company together with a quality certificate under the German Medicines Act. This requires appropriate evidence for the import of medicines from non-EU countries.

However, in response to the company's complaint, the Federal Administrative Court has made it clear that the bloodsuckers are not yet drugs when they cross the border. For in Germany, a "substantial further processing", namely the several months of quarantine and microbiological monitoring. Therefore, the leeches should enter without the papers required by Bavaria. mwo / fle