VLUeM – 10.26.07 - VITAMIN LAWYER UPDATE e-MEMO
PRIVATE MESSAGE: The purpose of the VLUeM e-memo is to update the Vitamin
Lawyer and Vitamin Lawyer News web sites for my contacts and client list.
Private, privileged & confidential...
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1. Health Freedom Blog Update, Factoid & Client Notice
2. EU – taking over world food regulations?
3. CAM & Natural Products… perfect together…
4. Public support for CAM reimbursement
5. Fighting over GMP requirements
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1. Vitamin Lawyer Health Freedom Blog –
New Posting -
http://vitaminlawyerhealthfreedom.blogspot.com/
“With food supplements, we have an extremely cost effective and very safe
tool to better public health.” S. Hasslberger -
newmediaexplorer.org/sepp/index.htm
Notice: Due to the continuing decline of the Dollar and increased costs, The
Vitamin Lawyer Consultancy hourly rate has increased to $295 – the regular
monthly retainer client rate remains $250 per hour, however.
To get on to the Global Health Freedom eblast list, please go to:
http://www.globalhealthfreedom.org
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2. EU – taking over world food regulations?
Sepp Hasslberger’s Health Supreme Blog often has a very good knowledge of
pending issues. He explores the claim that EU “Napoleonic Code” regulation
of foods – including natural remedies, dietary supplements and functional
foods – is being spearheaded by the European Union. The most serious problem
from the viewpoint of the American wellness marketplace is the old legal
distinction between “Code” countries, where whatever is not approved is
prohibited, and Common Law countries, like the US, where whatever is not
forbidden is allowed; the centuries-old struggle between free markets and
mercantilism continues!
Sepp quotes one unnamed source: “One American official says flatly that the
EU is ‘winning’ the regulatory race, adding: ‘And there is a sense that
that is their precise intent.’ He cites a speech by the trade commissioner,
Peter Mandelson, claiming that the export of ‘our rules and standards around
the world’ was one source of European power. Noting that EU regulations are
often written with the help of European incumbents, the official also claims
that precaution can cloak ‘plain old-fashioned protectionism in
disguise’.”
“Protectionism” is certainly not a friend of advanced healthcare and
wellness companies, especially in our globalized world marketplace. Sepp’s
article, on the dangers of “HARMonization” with Codex is a must read.
www.newmediaexplorer.org/sepp/2007/10/15/codex_alimentarius_will_eu_laws_become_world_standard.htm
And what would be the effect of the EU takeover on your business? On your
vitamin use? Here is what one UK nongovernmental organization, ANH, noted in a
report critical of the “science” behind upper limits: “upper levels
being considered for nutrients such as beta-carotene could be exceeded by
eating two carrots…”
nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=80871&m=1NIEO25&c=jegwylrviswtnqa
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3. CAM and Natural Products… perfect together…
From The Integrator Blog: Parallel Play or a Potent Alliance? Alternative
Medicine Practitioners and the Natural Products Industry are Stronger Together
- David Matteson, MPM, MURP, MS
"The Natural Products Industry (NPI) and the complementary and alternative
medicine (CAM) industry are each in the midst of a major transformation. Their
ability to learn how to 'play' together may be crucial to how well these
industries grow and succeed over the next few years.
"There is a natural relationship between these two industries. Many policy
makers and many consumers see them as flip sides of the same coin. Yet, these
two industries have not really acknowledged their interconnectedness, let
alone taken active steps to collaborate on their common political and market
interests.”
theintegratorblog.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=368&Itemid=189
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4. Public support for CAM reimbursement
While I am no fan of licensing laws (‘A license is a limitation…”) An
Iowa health reform poll shows 68% of voters want licensed CAM professionals
covered in basic insurance benefits.
”A broad-ranging survey on health reform topics by the Gilmore Research
Group found that 68% of voters believe basic health care benefits should
include coverage for any licensed health care professionals.
Licensed professionals directly noted in the survey of 601 Iowa voters were
‘naturopathic physicians, acupuncturists and chiropractors.’ The survey
was commissioned by Code Blue Now! - a national, non-partisan, not-for-profit
citizen organization formed to build public consensus in health care policy.
The Iowa population was strategically selected to have a maximum influence on
the healthcare reform debate.”
theintegratorblog.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=365&Itemid=189
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5. Fighting over GMP requirements
The FDA’s new Good Manufacturing Practices will be phased in over two years,
giving smaller companies some time to get ready… the most difficult area as
been the new requirement for “100% Identity Testing” with many companies
complaining that there may be no available lab tests that can determine
identity where a product has a dozen or more ingredients, some in such low
amount as to be nearly nano dilutions.
“The FDA (US Food & Drug Administration) published the final rule on Good
Manufacturing Practices, known as GMPs, in June. The soon-to-be-implemented
GMP legislation forms part of the 1994 Dietary Supplements Health and
Education Act (DSHEA) and is set to provide standards specific to the industry
for inspectors to check for purity, safety and legality in manufacturing. Both
the Natural Products Association (NPA) and the American Herbal Products
Association (AHPA) find fault with the fact that under the current GMPs, only
supplement manufacturers, but not ingredient suppliers, can submit petitions
for exemptions from 100 percent identity testing.”
It is expected that FDA will accommodate the needs of companies with
specialized products that may not be susceptible to the required lab testing.
nutraingredients-usa.com/news/ng.asp?n=80939&m=1NIUO26&c=jegwylrviswtnqa
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Ralph Fucetola, JD - The Vitamin Lawyer.com Consultancy
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