Consumers for Health Choice Case Study

Client Profile and Issue

Formed in 1996, Consumers for Health Choice (CHC) is a campaigning organisation defending the interests of consumers of food supplements, herbal remedies and other natural health products and therapies. CHC considers that a series of new regulations from the European Union are overly restrictive and will prevent UK consumers having continued access to safe and popular products which have been traditionally used in the UK to achieve and maintain optimum health.

Our Strategy

CHC has maintained an intensive lobbying campaign within the United Kingdom political environment to ensure that the UK Government at all times is fully aware of the depth of concern about disproportionate regulatory developments. CHC has regularly briefed and lobbied all UK Members of the European Parliament, and members from all Member States who serve upon the key Environment Committee of that Parliament. We have also established an ongoing dialogue with officials of key Government agencies, including the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), and CHC’s views are also registered when appropriate directly with officials of the European Commission.

A high media profile, the recruitment and deployment of high profile celebrity supporters, and a constant barrage of Parliamentary Questions, Early Day Motions, debates and other political activity, has kept pressure constantly on the UK Government actively to negotiate for a more proportionate approach in Europe.

CHC has been lobbying hard for a light touch implementation of the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive and for the Food Supplements Directive to be implemented in a way that permits Member States flexibility to allow onto their national markets products which lie outside the legislation’s otherwise restrictive provisions.

Outcome

The late spring and early summer of 2005 saw CHC achieve a paradigm shift on the part of the UK Government, with the Prime Minister personally intervening to take a high profile public position on issues of concern. CHC has now achieved a situation where it is fighting in Europe with the UK Government as an active and committed ally, rather than as the enemy. Meanwhile many MEPs from across the Union have signed up as Patrons of CHC, and the Commission itself, at Director General and Commissioner level, is very much aware of CHC’s aims and objectives for legislation under discussion.

The FSA and MHRA have now given commitments that they will work with CHC and industry representatives to implement the legislation more in keeping with CHC’s aspirations.

In earlier campaigns CHC also successfully defeated attempts to restrict the retail sale of higher potency Vitamin B6 supplements.

A recent Commons Motion congratulated CHC on making “the humble vitamin pill an issue of national political importance”.