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HOLIDAY WISHES!
We join the HPA in wishing all members and Headlines’ readers the best of times over the festive season. May you be well, happy and at peace.
Monica & Suzanne |
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TRAINING INSTITUTE SET TO LAUNCH
THE health products industry takes a huge step into the future with the launch in February next year of the Institute of Complementary Health (ICH), the official training division of the HPA.
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A fully accredited training institute, the ICH has been established to advance the professional standing of the complementary and alternative medicines industry through the provision of expert training and skills development. |
“As a leader in the CAMS field we have a responsibility to seek innovative ways in which the credibility and status of the industry can be enhanced,” says HPA chairman, Dr Alan Tomlinson. “The training courses will benefit doctors, pharmacists, health care professionals, CAMS professionals and those with relevant tertiary qualifications in nutrition, physiology and related disciplines. In fact anyone who wishes to build a sustainable career in the CAMS industry will gain from the courses.”
For this venture, the HPA has partnered with Dr Jaques Rossouw of Dunamis Nutrition International who will be responsible for the development, administration and presentation of the curriculum. “The courses are based on extensive research and needs analysis and we have synthesised material from a wide range of disciplines to create very specific programmes. These will evolve as we learn from the industry and through on-course practical experience,” comments Rossouw.
All the ICH courses will be CPD accredited and conducted from a strictly generic platform. Read the details of courses, costs and times on the HPA website.
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REGULATIONS ON THE MOVE
THE HPA was among numerous industry representatives and professional bodies that responded last month to the call by the Department of Health for comments on the Draft Regulations. And while the job of scrutinising those comments is likely to keep the Department busy for six to 12 months, HPA chairman Dr Alan Tomlinson remains upbeat about the process.
“There is a real challenge ahead to get us all the way through to the Guidelines,” he says, “but at least we now have a platform for the legislative process.”
Among the points made in the HPA’s response was the reiteration of the need for CAMS to have its own place in the sun and, like African Traditional Medicine, to be treated differently and appropriately from allopathic medicines. “We also stressed the different research methodologies related to each field,” Dr Tomlinson continues. “CAMS is evidence-based and centuries old. We’re not talking about new medicines or molecules that require strict medical trials. Although not all herbs are safe our safety profile is intact.”
| AS things stand, CAMS will fall under Act 101, which is seen by the HPA as “a difficult to fit”. It’s hoped that the DoH will be sensitive to this. “First prize would be to have our own Act!” suggests Dr Tomlinson. The next best thing would be a separate CAMS directorate within the DoH, staffed by people with CAMS knowledge and experience to carry out evaluations. |
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The HPA comment included the challenge of complying with the requirements for Good Manufacturing Practice; the provision of a “responsible person” and not only a pharmacist to be involved with product registration; and flexibility around the publication of substance lists.
“We also felt that an electronic system for the registration of products was important to help speed up the process,” Dr Tomlinson adds. “To process 20 000 applications manually will take ages.” |
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INDUSTRY WATCHDOG STILL NEEDED
PROGRESS is being made with the Regulations that will eventually control the health products industry but there is still a role to play for the watchdog-cum-advisory body set up by the HPA.
Now two years old, the Self Monitoring Technical Committee remains busy with enquiries and concerns about product and advertising claims. And SMTC chairman Denise Maidment sees its work continuing for the foreseeable future because, until such time as the legislative process is complete, some sort of guiding hand remains necessary.
Of the cases handled by the SMTC, many of the problems relate to confusion about claims that can be made for products and the kind of substantiating evidence needed. But there are also instances of industry players taking advantage of loopholes.
“There are some companies that have not entered into the spirit of what the SMTC is attempting to do but we’re encouraged by the fact that most people have complied with our requests,” Maidment observes, “and we will now use the draft Regulations as a frame of reference. Having parameters that are being set by the government will make our work a lot easier.”
She added that the presentation at the AGM by Griffith Molewa of Law Enforcement at the Department of Health was very helpful in clearing up confusion about the call up of products in 2002. “He stressed that it was a call up for audit of products and not their registration. And that obviously affects what you can and cannot say about your product.”
The SMTC handled almost 50 cases this year. “It’s a very hard-working committee,” Maidment added, “and it would be a thankless task if it weren’t for the fact that we feel it’s having benefits for the industry.” |
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BUILD THE NATION WITH
INCOME CREATION
| DIRECT selling is about people, relationships, empowerment and upliftment. And it’s an industry that tends to thrive in tough economic times as people look to part-time opportunities to supplement their income. |
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Approximately 20% of HPA members are direct selling or network marketing companies. In 2007, health and wellness products made up 24,29% of the direct selling distribution pie, second only to the 26,99% attributed to household goods.
There are more than 350 000 direct sellers in the health and wellness sphere and Imtiaz Ebrahim, director and treasurer of the Direct Selling Association of South Africa (DSASA) and GM of Herbalife Southern Africa, predicts that the economic downturn should show a steady increase in the number of new members to the industry as people realise how easy direct selling is.
“At 28%, direct sales and network marketing represent the highest form of distribution in our industry,” says Dr Alan Tomlinson, HPA Chairman and African representative on the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations (WFDSA). “It is a fantastic method of promoting health products as they can be properly explained to the consumer by the distributor. In retail outlets, consumers are often overwhelmed by choice.
The entrepreneurial aspect of this industry is what many find appealing.
“Our focus is on encouraging entrepreneurship and the direct selling industry empowers people by providing them with the opportunity to establish their own businesses, acquire new knowledge and develop business management skills,” explains Tomlinson. “South Africans are extraordinarily entrepreneurial and enjoy developing businesses. This is becoming particularly visible in the black community.”
Industry Growth
| Figures released by DSASA showed a 15,5% growth in industry sales between 2006 and 2007.Growth in the black community is particularly strong with distributors forming as much as 75% of the active sales people.
Although often maligned and perceived as a scam, direct selling and network marketing are lawful and legitimate business practices with entrenched ethics and high business standards. Tomlinson is quick to point out that these businesses must not be equated with the questionable ethics of pyramid selling structures. |
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“Our industry distances itself completely from pyramid schemes and other scams,” emphasises Tomlinson. “We discriminate against all harmful business practices. The DSASA is governed by a strict code of conduct designed to reassure the public that they can be sure of reputable business practice and that there is recourse to a higher body should they be dissatisfied.”
Direct selling is very flexible and allows distributors to work and develop however they choose. Participants can either supplement their income for a while or embark on a business venture with earnings directly proportional to the amount of effort put in, the hours invested and the volume of products sold.
The Direct Selling Education Foundation (DSEF) is committed to corporate social responsibility and numerous HPA members have received awards for their contributions to community upliftment.
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CONGRATULATIONS TO CODEX
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THE 30th session of Codex, held in Cape Town in November, has been declared a “progressive and successful meeting”. Adds the HPA’s Anne Pringle: “Decisions were made - and progress towards finalising some of the Guidelines under discussion actually happened.” |
The meeting of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU) was hosted by the Department of Health and attended by 240 delegates representing 52 member states and 27 observer organisations. The gathering was opened by the Minister of Health, Ms Barbara Hogan, who showed her understanding of the issues facing the Committee. Subjects under discussion included guidelines for the use of nutritional claims as well as the definition of dietary fibre; the scientific basis of health claims; risk analysis principles and nutrient reference values (NRVs).
On the latter, the Committee debated how general population NRVs should be determined but, according to Pringle, it was clear that there was no consensus on the best way forward. The discussion on the scientific basis for health claims however was very positive.
The Nutrient Risk Analysis principles now specify that the FAO/WHO nutrient risk assessment report is the internationally accepted approach for the safety evaluation of nutrients. “These principles are important for setting maximum nutrient levels in product formulations based on risk assessment,” says Pringle, “and the potential to develop internationally acceptable upper safe levels, based on scientific risk assessment principles, is now a reality. “
“Our government must be congratulated on their professional organisation of the meeting,” she adds. “The logistics were complex but everything ran smoothly. Dries Pretorius and his team at Food Control made us all proud to be South Africans! The same goes for Lynne Moeng, director, Nutrition.”
It wasn’t all hard work for delegates though. The HPA in conjunction with the CGCSA entertained everyone with a great evening at the Gold Museum. Deirdre Allen made sure that all went well – and the occasion was a good opportunity for the HPA to cement relationships with worldwide legislators and the DoH.
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RESEARCH & REGULATION NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD (Supplied by IADSA) |
MELAMINE RISKS FROM CHINA
EU: The European Food Safety Authority recently conducted an urgent risk assessment on melamine due to the growing global concern about the possible use of melamine-contaminated milk powder originating from China. The conclusion was that children with an average consumption of biscuits, milk toffee and chocolate made with milk powder containing the highest levels of melamine would not exceed the tolerable daily intake (TDI). However, children with high daily consumption of these products would exceed the TDI by up to three times. A number of countries have either banned imports of Chinese milk and milk products or have sought the withdrawal of products from retail outlets. The Chinese government recently announced its first rules for allowable levels of melamine leaked from the environment and packaging material but has forbidden the deliberate addition of melamine as an ingredient or additive. In the recent incidents, it was believed to have been added to inflate artificially the appearance of protein.
‘ADVERSE EVENTS’ LESS
THAN EXPECTED
US: In the first six months that reporting of adverse events from the use of food supplements has been required by law, the Office of Nutritional Products, Labelling and Dietary Supplements in the FDA received 368 reports from supplement manufacturers and 236 from consumers or healthcare professionals.
An “adverse event” can be anything from a concern that a supplement is not working to a serious illness following consumption. Although this first batch of reports included five deaths and 85 hospitalisations (some of which the FDA acknowledges may be due to underlying medical conditions), the figures have not caused major alarm in the supplement industry. It has pointed out that if similar numbers are received in the next six months, the total for the year is likely to be less than the FDA’s original estimate, and contrasts strongly with the circa 450,000 mandatory AERS for pharmaceutical products in 2007.
CONTROL OF HERBALS?
FINLAND: Health food companies are increasingly concerned about the Finnish National Agency of Medicine’s interpretation of medicines law which may mean that many herbal products that have been freely traded for over 40 years will be restricted to sale via pharmacies. In theory, traditional herbal medicinal products (THMPs) registered under the European Directive for THMPs will, on a case by case basis, be allowed to be sold via sales channels such as health food stores and grocers. However, to date no THMP registrations have been granted. Negotiations with the authorities to maintain free trade for herbal products are on-going, and a petition for freedom of consumer choice is being organised.
RESEARCH ON DIET & BEHAVIOUR
UK: The Wellcome Trust, which supports biomedical research and its impact on health, has granted £1.4 million to an Oxford University study involving over 1 00 young offenders in three prisons. The aim is to investigate the link between nutrition and behaviour: whether the dietary adequacy and optimum nutrient dosages required to support brain function and behaviour are responsible for the reduction in antisocial and violent behaviour seen in similar studies. Half the prisoners in the study will be given four Omega 3 fish oil supplements daily, and the other half a placebo. Results will be compared over four months.
EXPANDED CLAIM FOR CALCIUM
US: The FDA has finally responded to a petition relating to calcium claims submitted by a manufacturer in 2004. It asked that the osteoporosis risk-reduction claim be extended to reflect the importance of vitamin D in combination with calcium in promoting long term bone health. The Food and Drug Administration has amended the claim to:" Adequate calcium and vitamin D throughout life, as part of a well balanced diet, may reduce the risk of osteoporosis".
The change becomes effective from January, 2010.
BOTANICALS RECOGNISED
FRANCE: Two national decrees have been issued in France to help liberalise its herbal regulations and allow greater access to botanicals which, until now, have been grouped with herbal medicines - with most being classified as medicines and their sales restricted to pharmacies. One decree recognises that botanicals can be sold as food supplements and medicines, and the other allows a broad range of botanicals to be sold from non-pharmacy outlets. However the decrees have not yet been adopted into law and texts have still to be finalised.
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If you would like to share your company news with the industry please email:
fairallm@mweb.co.za or zansu@iafrica.com
Health Product Association of South Africa
PO Box 55544 • Northlands • Johannesburg 2116 •
South Africa
Tel : +27 11 789 4464 • Fax : +27 11 789 4464
email: hpasa@hpasa.co.za | website: www.hpasa.co.za
DISCLAIMER
The comments and opinions expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily the views or position of the Health Products Association. |
