Homeopathic Association Works with FDA to Educate Manufacturers
The American Association of Homeopathic Pharmacists’ (AAHP) latest educational webinar illustrates the homeopathic industry fostering a relationship with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure the highest quality of safe medicines to retailers, consumers and health practitioners across the U.S. Per the request of AAHP, the agency provided staff to present updates on its Compliance Policy for homeopathic products directly to the industry’s manufacturers, distributors and marketers.
Brad Pace, acting director of the FDA Compliance Office’s Division of Nonprescription Drugs and Health Fraud, presented best manufacturing and labeling practices to AAHP members and other industry leaders on May 24, 2016. During the webinar, Pace communicated that homeopathic products are legally marketed in the United States when they contain active ingredients that are prepared homeopathically and labeled properly. He noted homeopathic products are no exception to the agency’s concern with over-the-counter drugs in any class that are marketed inappropriately for serious conditions.
“At AAHP, we strive to provide our members with educational resources and tools for complying with changing regulations, and ultimately, for manufacturing their products with the utmost excellence,” said Mark Land, AAHP president. “Our recent collaboration with the U.S. FDA is just one way that the association is providing such critical information.”
AAHP’s 2016 webinar series kicked off in March with a session on new and expanded labeling guidelines published in the Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States (HPUS)—the federally recognized compendium for homeopathic starting ingredients and manufacturing. Moderated by Eric Foxman, member of the HPCUS Board of Trustees and Chair of the HPCUS Council on Pharmacy, the webinar closely examined the new guidelines and gave homeopathic manufacturers in attendance tips for optimizing their product labels.
AAHP provides a number of other educational resources, including monthly newsletters, articles, position statements and conferences that allow members to engage with policymakers and other key industry stakeholders.
AAHP’s next webinar is slated for mid summer with a discussion of good manufacturing compliance (GMP) issues led by another representative from the FDA. Other topics to be covered throughout the series include an in-depth look at consistent and reliable documentation for homeopathic product manufacturers and a follow up webinar on compliant labeling regulations. The webinars are open to all, and AAHP members receive discounted registration. For more information and directions for registration, email info@aahp.info.
For more information, visit www.aahp.info.
