The herbal medicine market - France (2023)

1.2 The French herbal medicine market is growing strongly

As we have already seen, the phytotherapy market comprises: phytotherapy proper (***),aromatherapy and gemmotherapy . The sales figures for these different segments are detailed below.

In ****, the phytotherapy market proper in pharmacies and parapharmacies (***) in France was estimated at *** million euros[***]. According to Arkopharma, pharmacies and parapharmacies accounted for **% of total sales of phytotherapy products in France in ****.

Assuming that this percentage remains stable between **** and ****, we can estimate the herbal medicine market at ***.* million euros in ****. The data used for this estimate are as follows:

Market size = *** / *.** = ***.* million euros

The following graph shows the evolution of sales of phytotherapy in pharmacies and parapharmacy outlets, on which we base our estimate of total phytotherapy sales. This sales figure rose by **% from **** to ****, from *** million euros to *** million, and should continue to increase at a CAGR of *% until ****, reaching *** million euros.

Sales of phytotherapy in pharmacies and parapharmacies France, ****-****, in millions of euros SOurce : OpenHealth

Next, sales of the aromatherapy market were estimated at *** million euros in ****, having increased by **% compared to ****, after falling by **% between **** and ****. It should continue to grow at a CAGR of *% until ****, reaching *** million euros .

Size of the aromatherapy market in pharmacies, parapharmacies and organic stores France, ...

1.3 The global herbal medicine market

The global herbal medicine market was estimated at $***.* billion in **** , and is expected to continue growing at a CAGR of **.*% over the period ****-****, reaching $***.* billion in **** .

Global herbal medicine market size World, ****-****, in billions of dollars Source: ****

This growth is driven by the advent of the Covid-** epidemic . Indeed, the global market for herbal medicines is experiencing very strong demand for * reasons: their immunity-boosting power and their chemical-free composition.

The continent that dominates and will continue to dominate the herbal medicine market in the years to come isEurope. Indeed, growing R&D for these medicines and increasing market investment in the region are expected to drive market growth over the period ****-****.

The *nd region with the largest market share is North America, as the USA has recently become aware of the benefits of herbal medicines.

Source: ****

1.4 Foreign trade

Here, we look at imports and exports of dried aromatic and medicinal plants, followed by a breakdown of the main buyers and sellers, from and for France, of medicinal plants, aromatics, spices and aromatic seeds. Phytotherapy does not include spices and aromatic seeds, but these figures give us an idea of market movements, with medicinal plants accounting for over **% of imports and exports of the total concerned.

Imports and exports for dried aromatic and medicinal plants, as is France and the World, ****-****, in millions of euros Source : FranceAgriMer Between **** and ****, French imports of dried aromatic and medicinal plants rose significantly, from €*** million to €*** million.at the same time, exportshave also risen, albeit less sharply, from ** million euros in **** to *** million euross in ****.as a result, the trade balance remained negative throughout this period, worsening from -** million euros in **** to -*** million in ****.

French export destinations for medicinal and aromatic plants, spices and seeds France and the World, ****, in % (***) Source : FranceAgriMer In ****, Frenchfrench exportswere split between several destinations.Germany was the main market,with **.*% of exports, followed by Switzerland(***). The rest of the world accounted for **.*% of French exports in this sector.

Origin of French imports of medicinal and aromatic ...

2.1 The perception of natural treatments and phytotherapy in France

The above data dates from **** and ****, but illustrates the trust the French have in phytotherapy, which is broadly the same in ****.

In ****, according to a survey conducted by Ipsos, **% of French people said they used natural treatments, of which **% used homeopathy, **% aromatherapy and **% phytotherapy as such. We can thus observe that phytotherapy, although used by almost one French person in *, remains less well-known and widespread than other so-called "alternative" or natural medicines.

Share of French people using natural products France, ****, in % Ipsos

OpinionWay also conducted a survey in May **** among a sample of **** French people, to assess their perception and judgment of health prodiuits, including phytotherapy products. As a result, **% of those questioned said they consider medicinal plants, phytotherapy products in general and essential oils to be good for their health and the health of their loved ones.

"For each of the following products, please indicate whether you consider it good for your health and that of your loved ones" France, May ****, in Source: ****

Barriers to consumption

However, a large proportion of French people have doubts about the efficacy of herbal products. Indeed, this is one of the two main barriers to herbal medicine consumption in France, according to the ...

2.2 Consumer profile

In France, in ****, **% of consumers of natural treatments were women, and this proportion rose to **% when looking specifically at phytotherapy. Also, **% of natural treatment consumers had children. Finally, the consumer base was rather young, with **% aged under **.

However, this typical profile of natural treatment consumers has gradually become more masculine, and now extends to an increasingly large proportion of the population: **% of French people want to use natural treatments in the future. [***]

Reasons for use

The main reason for using natural treatments is that they offer a healthier alternative to conventional medicines (***). The main product claims driving the purchase of herbal products are as follows:

Source: ****

2.3 The role of healthcare professionals

Present throughout the health pathway, and therefore in this case the purchasing pathway, healthcare professionals have a key role to play in the expansion of phytotherapy in France.

In ****, **% of healthcare professionals (***). Doctors were slightly less likely to believe in the virtues of alternative medicine, but **% were positive about the use of phytotherapy.

"For each of the following medicines, do you believe in its health benefits?" France, January ****, in % Source: ****

**% of healthcare professionals recommend alternative medicines

Recommendations of alternative and complementary medicine by healthcare professionals France, ****, in Odoxa

Natural health products are often purchased on the recommendation of a healthcare professional(***), play an important role in the purchasing process.

Purchase drivers for natural health products and dietary supplements France, May ****, in Source: ****

3.1 Medicinal plant production in France

In the data compiled by France Agrimer, medicinal plants are included in a category of plants known as PPAM (***).

In ****, France will have **,*** hectares under PPAM cultivation, an increase of *% on ****, and **% on ****. The majority of this area will be occupied by perfume plants(***). France will have **,*** ha of medicinal plant cultivation in ****, down by *% on ****. [***]

Surface area dedicated to PPAM cultivation France, ****-****, in hectares France Agrimer

Distribution of PPAM surface area by type France, ****, in % France Agrimer France Agrimer

Medicinal plant (***) cultivation

In France, the total area under medicinal plant cultivation initially declined between **** and ****, to the benefit of import growth (***), before increasing again between **** and ****. As a result, the PM cultivation area rose from **,*** ha in **** to **,*** ha in ****.

PM cultivation area France, ****-****, in hectares France Agrimer

sage

(** t

lemon balm

(***,*** euros

Main PM marketed - volume France, ****, in tons France Agrimer

Main MP marketed - value France, ****, in thousands of euros France Agrimer

3.2 Distributing phytotherapy products

In France, the distribution of phytotherapy products is largely dominated by pharmacies and parapharmacies, which account for almost **% of market share, according to data supplied by Arkopharma (***). Supermarkets and hypermarkets account for *.*% of the market, online sales *.*% and organic and health food stores *.*%.

Distribution of phytotherapy products by channel France, ****, in Arkopharma via Sénat

3.3 Arkopharma, market leader in phytotherapy, and acquisition by Dermapharm

Most of the major manufacturers of natural health products are present in pharmacies, but access remains difficult for many smaller players, not listed here, due to limited space in pharmacies. Laboratories such as Arkopharma, Sanofi, Bayer, Urgo, Mayoly Spindler and Biocodex, which are present in pharmacies, have crucial relationships with pharmacies to access this restricted pharmaceutical distribution channel.

Arkopharma, in particular, was the European leader in the phytotherapy market until the end of ****, offering some twenty ranges of food supplements, medicines and medical devices for health, phytotherapy, aromatherapy, beauty and well-being. The company was present in over ** countries worldwide, including * subsidiaries abroad. In ****, the company reported sales of *** million euros, down *. *% on ****.despite a strong expansion strategy, France was a key country for the company, accounting for **% of its sales. [***]

Arkopharma Group sales France, ****-****, in million euros Source: ****

Dermapharm acquires Arkopharma from Montagu

Dermapharm, the German pharmaceutical company, has acquired Arkopharma in **** for around €*** million, far surpassing Montagu's initial valuation of less than €*** million in ****. This transaction, based on a multiple of ** times **** Ebitda, aims to propel Dermapharm into the herbal medicine business in Europe, broadening its scope of activity beyond conventional medicines, vaccines and OTC products. Prior to this ...

4.1 Typology of phytotherapy products

Food supplements account for a large proportion of phytotherapy products sold in France. They can be marketed in a variety of galenic forms. The following data dates from ****, but gives a general idea of how herbal medicines are marketed.

In pharmacies, the vast majority (***).

Main formats of phytotherapy products (***) in pharmacies France, ****, in France Agrimer

Main formats of phytotherapy products (***) in parapharmacy France, ****, in % France Agrimer France Agrimer

Gemmotherapy

In both pharmacies and parapharmacies, gemmotherapy sales are on the rise, reaching *.** million euros and ***,*** euros respectively in ****, for a total volume of *,*** liters. The main products sold are blackcurrant, fig, linden and hawthorn.[***]

Solutions

Sales in pharmacies are around * times higher than in drugstores. The solutions are mainly aloe vera (***)

Capsules

Although the volume of capsules sold in pharmacies is down (***), averaging €***/kg. In parapharmacy, both volume and value are on the rise: over * tonnes for over €* million in ****, with a ****-**** trend of +*.*% in volume and +**.*% in value. The average value of these plant powders in capsules is around €*,***/kg, i.e. €*** more than in pharmacies.

The plant most consumed in capsule form in pharmacies is harpagophytum (***). In parapharmacy, borage and evening primrose capsules dominate the market, accounting for almost ...

4.2 Overview of market prices

The prices below are taken from an Arkopharma document detailing the selling prices of their products in pharmacies. They are therefore statements rather than averages. The focus here is on Arkogélules and Arkofluides, the two herbal products mainly presented in this document.

For Arkogélule products, the standard format is ** capsules; For Arkofluides products, the standard format is a box of ** x ** mL ampoules.

Arkogélules range - ** capsule format

Source: ****

Arkogélules range - format *** capsules

Source: ****

Arkofluides range

Source: ****

4.3 Organic products on the rise

For phytotherapy products, organic sales remain relatively low in pharmacies, but are significantly higher in parapharmacy outlets, and especially in organic stores.

Over the last decade, the number of farms and areas devoted to organic PPAM has grown remarkably, with respective increases of +***% and +***% between **** and ****. In ****, the surface area devoted to organic PPAM will reach **,*** ha, of which *,*** ha will be certified organic and *,*** ha in conversion, representing almost **% of the sector's national surface area. In terms of farms, around **% of PPAM producers, or *,***, are involved in organic farming, testifying to the continued dynamism of this sector, with growth of +**.*% in surface area and +**.*% in the number of farms between **** and ****.

Growth in the number of committed farms and certified organic and in-conversion areas France, ****-****, in units and hectares Source: ****

In terms of cultivated area, lavender(***). Organic acreage (***) by plant France, ****, in Source: ****

Lastly, organic acreage is more concentrated in the southern half of France, particularly in the south-eastern quarter.

Indeed, the PAC, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Occitanie regions will account for **%, **% and **% respectively of organic PPAM acreage in ****, with farmed areas of *,*** ha, *,*** ha and *,*** ha.

5.1 Medicinal plant sales in France

The sale of medicinal plants, and therefore the scope of practice of phytotherapy, is regulated by the Pharmacopoeia, which lists all recognized medicinal plants. Medicinal plants are considered to be substances with a therapeutic action, and as such, their sale is authorized only to pharmacists practicing in dispensaries. Private individuals may not cultivate these plants for the purpose of selling them, nor may they sell them if they possess them. [***]

However, *** of them benefit from a more flexible regime, as they are used for food and cosmetics. For these *** plants, decree no. ****-*** of August **, **** authorizes sale outside pharmacies (***), and specifies in detail which part of the plant may be marketed and consumed. [***]

5.2 Regulatory framework for plant-derived therapeutic products

A herbal medicine is a medicine whose active substance is exclusively one or more herbal substances or herbal preparations, or a combination of several herbal substances or herbal preparations. (***)[***]

Herbal medicinal products can be authorized in three ways:

Marketing authorization on the basis of a complete dossier (***); Marketing authorization on the basis of well-established medical use; Application for registration of traditional herbal medicines[***].

5.3 Regulatory framework for dietary supplements

In ****, European Directive ****/**/EC established a specific regulatory framework for food supplements. This framework provides a strict definition (***) and distinguishes between two groups: nutrients and other substances with a nutritional or physiological effect. It also sets out the procedures for labeling and marketing European supplements in Europe. Decree no. ****-*** transposes the aforementioned European decree.

Other decrees in France govern the production and sale of food supplements:

Thedecree of May *, **** in France relates to the nutrients that may be used in the manufacture of food supplements, which it lists. The decree of June **, ****, lists the plants, other than mushrooms, authorized in food supplements as well as the conditions of their use. The order of September **, ****, establishes the list of substances with nutritional or physiological purposes authorized in food supplements.

6.1 Segmentation

• Arkopharma
• Bayer
• Ipsen
• Santé Verte
• Merck KGaA
• Nutreov Physcience
• PiLeJe
• Fenioux Groupe
• NaturHouse
• Puressentiel France
• Pranarôm (Inula Groupe)
• Naturactive (Pierre Fabre)
• Olisma
• Densmore (Havea Groupe)
• Herbalife
• Institut Endobiogénie
• Atlantic Nature
• Olisma