annual general meeting tuesday, 28 th april 2009 meeting the challenges of 2009 and beyond
TRANSCRIPT
Annual General MeetingTuesday, 28th April 2009
Meeting the Meeting the Challenges of 2009 Challenges of 2009
and beyond... and beyond...
MY PRESENTATION TODAY:
1) The HFMA – some background
2) What are the challenges?
3) How do we confront and combat
them?
4) Conclusions
WHAT IS THE HFMA? The voice of the UK’s Natural Products
industry The most representative trade body in the
UK, founded in 1965. Currently around 125 members
Founder member of EHPM, the European Federation of Health Product Manufacturers
‘WHO’ IS THE HFMA?HFMA Council – 2009/10:
Represented by:Gert Krabichler Dominic HolmesJonathan ShortsRoger CraddockJohn Redman Janet Groves Martin Last Lynn LordTom Moses Robert Taylor Ivor HarrisonTim Snook
Company:Capsugel CressGee LawsonHolland & BarrettLamberts Healthcare G R Lane MPL MarketingNatures AidReaction Sales CL UKVitabioticsWilliam Ransom Wassen
HFMA Secretariat:Executive Director: Graham KeenSpecial Projects Director: David AdamsOffice Manager: Linda Phillips
LAPADCode Administrator: Gwyneth MasseyCode Administrator: Jenny Akers
Advisers:Technical: Michael EvansScientific: Dr Michele sadlerParliamentary/Political: Chris WhitehousePR: Pegasus PR
Officials:President: Peter AldisVice-President: Penny viner
Expert Panel:Dr Marilyn Glenville PhDProfessor Andrew LoteryJayney GoddardDr Adam CareyPatrick HolfordDr Rob Hicks
SO WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES? Regulatory Issues
Getting the rest of Europe up to speed!
Combating negative media
Getting our Officials to fight harder on our behalf
Maintaining a united front
SO WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES? Regulatory Issues
Getting the rest of Europe up to speed!
Combating negative media
Getting our Officials to fight harder on our behalf
Maintaining a united front
ISSUES
FSD CLAIMS
HERBALS UIC
PROGRESS IN 2008 MPL’s – HFMA lobbying, using impact data
and legal arguments, helped delay EU proposals
Claims – HFMA supported 776 pan-EU claims
Herbals – Steady increase in THMPD applications & recognition by EFSA that the ‘Botanicals’ category exists
UIC – Guernsey introduced new Medicines law, Jersey committed to implementing legislation
STILL TO FIGHT MPL’s - Commission favours political
compromise & UK ‘sacrifice’ Claims – Chronic lack of clarity on several
issues & criteria for assessment by EFSA Herbals – THMPD barriers to entry for
SME’s (cost) = reduced consumer choice & Botanicals meeting NHCR criteria for making claims
UIC – Enforcement is required to ensure effectiveness of new laws
SO WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES? Regulatory Issues
Getting the rest of Europe up to speed!
Combating negative media
Getting our Officials to fight harder on our behalf
Maintaining a united front
PRThe perpetual dilemma: Reactive vs proactive?
Proactive PR needs quality ‘ammunition’: The IADSA/EHPM Scientic Network initiative
SO WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES? Regulatory Issues
Getting the rest of Europe up to speed!
Combating negative media
Getting our Officials to fight harder on our behalf
Maintaining a united front
IMPACTING BRUSSELS: DG meetings MEP consultations National Permanent Representatives Commission processes e.g. Petitions Pre-election lobbying (see the HFMA’s latest
toolkit)
Key point to remember – Brussels is currently fixated on SME impact
SO WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES? Regulatory Issues
Getting the rest of Europe up to speed!
Combating negative media
Getting our Officials to fight harder on our behalf
Maintaining a united front
HOW DO WE DO THIS?
A concerted campaign: Face-to-face meetings/telephone updates
(during our recent MPL’s campaign we met with the Health Minister, Defra, BERR, FSA, along with DG SANCO, DG Enterprise, MEP’s and the UK Perm Rep)
Parliamentary briefings Briefing papers
Remember - they need our help to properly fight our case...
SO WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES? Regulatory Issues
Getting the rest of Europe up to speed!
Combating negative media
Getting our Officials to fight harder on our behalf
Maintaining a united front
A UNITED FRONT Consumers
Retailers
Other national associations (where we have agreement and consensus)
A lead role within Europe
Our closest ally in Europe
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES:
“The four tenets of safety, sound science, proportionality and consumer choice must
be the basis in future upon which regulation is founded”
John Redman, HFMA Chairman – 6/4/09
THE KEY MESSAGE: Over-regulation risks suffocating a responsible and
innovative sector that is populated predominantly by small and medium sized enterprises
Over-regulation risks driving consumers to the grey and unregulated markets of the internet and offshore suppliers, ironically reducing not enhancing consumer protection
Over-regulation of the self-care sector risks impacting upon public health and increasing the burdens on the Health Service Executive/National Health Service
Over-regulation brings the European Commission into disrepute and does a disservice to the people it serves
IN CONCLUSION...
We cannot duck these challenges!
There is not a part of our industry that will not be impacted by over-regulation
This will not be easy – we are only 2 members out of a club of 27...