Guest guest Posted November 8, 2005 Report Share Posted November 8, 2005 Dear Christine, ANH General E-blast – October 2005 The momentum of the re-structuring and bedding in of key projects in August and September has continued into October making it both a busy and a productive month. As further work continues on the EU Food Supplements Directive (FSD) with regard to interpretation of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling, this does nothing to detract from the other major European legislative threat that came into force on Monday 31st October, namely the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive (THMPD) – more on this later! But now, on to an update of ANH progress and events. --- ----------- FSD Update The ANH has submitted its interpretation of the ECJ ruling based on the Opinion of its lead Counsel, Paul Lasok QC, to the UK Secretary of State, Patricia Hewitt, and to the EU Directorate-General for Health and Consumer Protection (Basil Mathioudakis). We await their responses and hope to be able to report back to you next month on outcomes. Based on the key gains from the ECJ ruling [silver lining] that the ANH has maintained since the ruling on 12 July, we have also submitted our recommended guidelines with regard to the procedure for gaining admission to the Positive List (specifically to Annex I and Annex II of the Directive). Dr Robert Verkerk (ANH Executive and Scientific Director) and Dr Damien Downing (ANH Medical) have also proposed a new classification system for vitamin and mineral food supplement ingredients, which we believe will assist interpretation of the ruling particularly in regard to the exclusion of particular natural sources of vitamins and minerals from the Directive, as confirmed by the European Court. We aim to publish the above-mentioned letter and appendices on our website in the near future. --- ----------- 'Traditional Herbal Medicines' in the EU THMPD is not a stand alone Directive, but a `sub-Directive' of the Human Medicines (Pharmaceutical) Products Directive. It is intended for only those herbal products used to treat minor ailments, which have a history of safe traditional use. Products eligible for the THMPD will benefit from a simplified, `fast-track' drugs licensing regime if it can be proved they have a safety record going back 30 years, including at least 15 years in any EU Member State. This means that some products will be restricted purely because they are from non-EU cultures. Particular combinations may also be disallowed and herbal products containing significant amounts of vitamins, minerals or other nutrients will be prohibited. Although enforced on Monday, there is a transition period until 2011 for full implementation. Unfortunately current estimates of licensing costs (which may exceed £40,000 [€58,700 or US$71,000] for single-herb products) are likely to be prohibitive for many companies. Licensing costs will inevitably need to be passed on the consumer, so demand may decline due to their increased cost. Another major problem is that products will be subjected to pharmaceutical stability tests and must show 6 months stability before being approved. Such a regime will not suit multi-herb tinctures, such as those used for thousands of years in certain traditional cultures such as Ayurveda. One key strategy for dealing with unfair or disproportionate impacts of the THMPD is through legal challenge, an avenue that is being considered at present. --- ----------- ANH on the move 11th – 12th October . Rob, Meleni and Lord Duncan McNair (Strategic Advisory Committee Member) travelled to Brussels to attend the MEP Awards Ceremony for some vital networking. The ANH was one of few non-governmental organizations invited. It was a hugely successful trip and we met and updated some very valuable political contacts. John Bowis MEP, a previous Minister for Health in the UK, with whom ANH has worked in the European Parliament, was given the main award for contributions in the field of health. 28-29 October: Rob and David, each for different reasons, were unable to travel to Minneapolis, Minnesota USA, for the National Conference for Health Freedom Advocates organized by the National Health Freedom Coalition to present " The Judicial Opinion on the Challenge to the EU Food Supplements Directive " . However, with advances in technology being what they are, all was not lost, and they managed to deliver their presentations and take questions in real time over a video link-up! Such technology has opened doors for future ANH communication on the global stage. 29-30 October: Meleni and Rob presented in Dublin, Ireland, at the Irish Association of Health Stores, `Your Health Show'. We were given a warm welcome by our Irish supporters and the industry dinner on the Saturday evening had all the hallmarks of good Irish `craic'. The show was a success and we have had an offer of fund raising support for which we are very grateful. Thank you to all who came to the presentations and asked such informed questions. Our presentations are available on the website at the following links: Meleni Aldridge: " EU Restrictions on Natural Health: The impact on Practitioners and Consumers. " Dr Rob Verkerk: " Natural Health Wars: Building on the Food Supplements Case. " --- ----------- Codex Alimentarius Rob has provided critical comments to the risk assessment paper produced by the Australian working group and a number of other governments, on behalf of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU) which will meet between 21-25 November in Bonn, Germany. These comments have been submitted to the National Health Federation which will, as a recognized Codex NGO (non-governmental organisation) include them as part of its own submission to the CCNFSDU, to be discussed at Bonn. The ANH is concerned that unless risk assessment procedures currently being considered by the CCNFSDU and the FAO/WHO nutrient risk assessment project are changed considerably, unreasonably low `upper safe levels' and `maximum permitted levels' will be developed for many nutrients used in food (or dietary) supplements compliant with Codex guidelines. --- ----------- Bird flu `fever' With news reports from around the world hinting at possible imminent human to human transmission of a mutated, highly pathogenic variant of the wild-type avian H5N1 virus, opinions on the threat to humans or otherwise, appears to be deeply divided. Some are convinced that the bird flu issue is another `pharma'-sourced manifestation which poses no real risk to humans and its publicity serves solely to increase profits of drugs companies and vaccine producers. Others are more concerned about the actual likelihood of a pandemic, but are concerned that vaccines and anti-viral drugs are unlikely to provide much reprieve. We have been monitoring the scientific data on this issue for some time and are now able to conclude that the risks of a global pandemic are in our view both real and significant. However, we are also concerned that vaccine and anti-viral drug strategies are unlikely to offer the solution currently being promised, particularly in the earlier stages of a pandemic. We believe that nutrients (food and supplements) may have an important role to play in helping to modulate immune systems so that people are better able to resist viral (and other) infections. We are aware of nutritional companies that are presently conducting experiments (e.g. on H5N1 in mice) using specific products which could be used for this purpose. We are also in the process of establishing an Avian Flu Expert Committee of key scientists so that we can make public carefully considered and scientifically proven natural options for reducing risk from infection. NB: As a small, already overloaded team, we regret that we are unlikely at this stage to be able to respond to specific public queries on bird flu at this time. Further information will follow in our November eblast. --- ----------- We need your support – please help us to help you! DONATE NOW The ANH exists entirely on donations, the FSD being just the tip of the iceberg. We still need your full commitment to continue our campaign. We are currently beginning a concerted drive to raise funds for a second legal challenge, this time to EU medicinal law (the HMPD). Please consider making a monthly contribution to us, of whatever amount you can afford. We are profoundly grateful for any support that you can give us – and please send this e-blast on to friends and contacts that might be interested in our work. Your comments are always appreciated and noted and we'd be interested in any feedback or suggestions. We're very grateful for your support and interest in the ANH campaign. In health, Meleni Meleni Aldridge Operations & Communications Manager Alliance for Natural Health tel +44 (0)1252 371 275 fax +44 (0)1932 232202 mob +44 (0)7771 750230 email mela web www.alliance-natural-health.org REMINDER: Please forward widely to those you know who are interested in natural health! To , please go to www.alliance-natural- health.org/index.cfm?action=unsub Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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