FDA request for feedback on homeopathy.

Great work Moderator.

If someone can prepare a standard statement for the ftc site which everyone can copy/paste here https://ftcpublic.commentworks.com/ftc/homeopathyworkshop/, that would be great.

I will try to make one and share here.

I smell the big pharma's influence on this hearing to clamp down homeopathy, so let's fight it with full force.

Moderator, please pin this post to appear as the top post till Nov at least.

Hi Simon,

Here in the usa, petitions with names on them get traction first. Any petition that has
100,000 names the White house has to respond to it. 500 letters vs 30,000 names-
they only worry about getting re-elected. They tried to do similar some years back
on Vitamins and herbs, but Whole Foods and other stores got petitions going and
that got stopped.

It is easy and people are used to signing their name online
for a petition which is a strong gauge of what the resistance will be, they just
hope no one will notice what they are doing.

Fitness I think you should word a petition, and also put it on
the popular petition sites, etc. You might want to word it on the
petition sites as more gov. interference on blocking right to choose
( like not requiring non gmo labeling on foods in the grocery store)
[message edited by simone717 on Tue, 14 Jul 2015 15:26:32 UTC]

"The FTC invites the public to submit research, recommendations for topics of discussion, and requests to participate as panelists. The workshop is free and open to the public."

For Submission at below link here is my recommendation, open to editing & improvement:
https://ftcpublic.commentworks.com/ftc/homeopathyworkshop/

Homeopathy has survived almost 300 years without major government intervention and we believe it will continue to do so. We strongly recommend to keep FDA 400 unchanged for now. Having said that, to protect public interest and discourage unscrupulous agents in the field of homeopathy, we support regulatory oversight into false & wild advertising claims which are applicable on healthcare industry all over. Also, in this day & age of user reviews over the internet, there is an intrinsic protection against false advertising claims. We would welcome research by a panel of homeopaths & relevant scientists into the working of homeopathic remedies. Hence, the most important topic of discussion that I can recommend is “How to initiate research into the workings of a homeopathic remedy”.
[message edited by fitness on Wed, 15 Jul 2015 17:20:26 UTC]

For submission at below link here is my recommendation, open to editing & improvement:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/The_US_Food_and_Drug_Ad...


We have been using homeopathy successfully for several years for common ailments and found it to be a safer alternative to allopathic medicines which sometimes have ridiculously large number of side effects. Since the way homeopathy works is not known and some critics claim it to be placebo, we strongly recommend to keep the FDA Guide 400 unchanged for now till more is known about the working of homeopathy. The placebo proponents have no answer when homeopathy works on infants, children & animals! Something can't become a multi billion dollar industry by being placebo alone, so maybe these big pharma sponsored critics should stop insulting the intelligence of those millions using homeopathy successfully.

Fitness,

The first link says it is not available.

The second link is hoping to get 250 people
to sign it? The person is from Canada. How about 25, 000 people sign it.

This is for usa people.

btw, There is a strong system already in place if one claims medicines or
products of any kind "cures" anything.
[message edited by simone717 on Thu, 16 Jul 2015 04:16:02 UTC]

I have inserted the link again, its working now.

Hi fitness,

I am going to spend some time on this, as why are not Hylands
and Boiron etc involved in stopping this agenda, as they have
the most to lose if remedies cannot be sold in stores , online sales.

They have advertising and PR departments that could implement
effective petitions and strategies, instead of a couple voices out of
NY and Canada.

The ftc saying they want to go over 8 areas and get input from
people is a red herring- this is all lobbying money and I would
expect the manufacturers to be organizing something. I am going
to inquire of them as to what their plan is to be able to continue
their large retail and wholesale market in the usa.
[message edited by simone717 on Thu, 16 Jul 2015 04:18:37 UTC]

Good idea Simone. Keep us posted.

I think after the April meeting they decided not to make any new sweeping decisions.

The April meeting was supposedly to get input from stakeholders as to how the FDA could "promote public health" as far as homeopathy was concerned.

This on the Federal Register site explains what the public hearing was about https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/03/27/2015-070...

However here it looks like they still want feedback from people until Aug 21 related to the hearing that took place in April.

http://www.fda.gov/forpatients/commentonguidance/ucm446676.h...

<The FDA is seeking to obtain information and comments from stakeholders about the current use of human drug and biological products labeled as homeopathic, as well as the Agency's regulatory framework for such products. These products include prescription drugs and biological products labeled as homeopathic and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs labeled as homeopathic. FDA is seeking participants for the public hearing and written comments from all interested parties, including, but not limited to, consumers, patients, caregivers, health care professionals, patient groups, and industry. FDA is seeking input on a number of specific questions, but is interested in any other pertinent information participants would like to share. To read the Federal Register Notice and to make comments electronically.>>

This is a link from the Federal Register site to the over 4300 comments made so far regarding FDA regulations on Homeopathics. http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketBrowser;rpp=100;so=DESC;s...

Right now on the table, scheduled for Sept 21 is a meeting the Federal Trade Commission has planned regarding guidelines for advertising claims. https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2015/06/ftc-h...
[message edited by emilybh on Thu, 13 Aug 2015 07:01:56 UTC]
[message edited by emilybh on Thu, 13 Aug 2015 07:08:57 UTC]