REPORTS
2005
On February 15th the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines EDQM held the Symposium "Quality of Homeopathic Medicinal Products in the new European Legislative Framework" in Strasbourg. Anthroposophic medicinal products were presented on that occasion by BAAP member Ian Wiggle. Ian Wiggle's speech has been well accepted and the overall impression was, that the awareness towards anthroposophic medicine and pharmacy is growing. In the prior speech of the German Authority BfArM there had been several references to anthroposophic medicinal products: the "terrain" for Ian's speech was therefore well prepared.
On April 20th a hearing of the Homeopathic Medicinal Product Working Group (HMPWG) was held in Amsterdam. The HMPWG represents the highest International Regulatory Authority for homeopathic medicinal products. Quite a number of anthroposophic medicinal products are manufactured by production methods described in homoeopathic pharmacopoeias, therefore the IAAP was represented by Christiaan Mol, who spoke about anthroposophic medicinal products in the context of mutual recognition procedure and the requirement to submit evidence concerning the “anthroposophic use”.
Christiaan Mol could clearly state the existing legal context of anthroposophic medicinal products (preamble 22 of Council Directive 2001/83) and the need of a specific approach concerning biographical data.
In July the IAAP publishes the first edition of the "Anthroposophic Pharmaceutical Codex, APC".
2006
The website was reorganised and redesigned in June.
In July the APC Committee was founded with the task to prepare the second edition of the APC.
The following new organisations are in the course of gaining membership:
- Società Italiana Farmacisti Antroposofi, SOFAI, Italy
- Association Française D’étude et de Recherche sur la Pharmacie Anthroposophique, AFERPA, France
- Associação Brasileira de Farmácia Antroposófica- FARMANTROPO, Brazil
The IAAP was invited to participate to the „Homeopathic Workshop“ at the European Medicines Agency EMEA on October 27th. The event was requested by members of the European Parliament. The IAAP presented the characteristics of anthroposophic medicinal products and the need to apply specific regulation.
The IAAP commented the draft “WHO Guidelines on the control and safety of homeopathic medicines” in December.
2007
In January the the Belgian/Dutch Association BNVAA (Belgisch-Nederlandse Vereniging van Antroposofisch georiënteerde Apothekers - Belgian Dutch Association of AnthroposophicPharmacists) is founded and applies for IAAP membership.
On June 25th, 26th and 27th the IAAP participated in the finalisation of the WHO paper now called “WHO guidelines on key issues of quality impacting on the safety of homeopathic medicines“. The consultation group provided several recommendations and proposals to both WHO Member States and the WHO.
With regard to anthroposophic medicine the most interesting recommendation for WHO´s further projects was the proposal:
“to develop appropriate technical guidelines addressing specific aspects of quality and safety of homeopathic medicines used in homeotherapy (e.s. microbial safety, viral safety)”.
This recommendation is the most important for anthroposophic medicine as it gives the WHO the possibility – although among other medical systems of homeotherapy – to take a closer look also on anthroposophic medicine.
In July the IAAP commented the draft document “Report on the experience acquired as a result of the application of the provisions of Chapter 2a of Directive 2001/83/EC (introduced by Directive 2004/24/EC) on specific provisions applicable to traditional herbal medicinal products”. In the draft document anthroposophic medicine is recognised as a medical direction having a tradition in Europe.
On August 16th the speciality „Anthroposophic Pharmacy“ as well as the "Anthroposophic Pharmaceutical Codex, APC" have been recognised in Brazil. Warm congratulations for the Brazilian collegues of the Brazilian association Associação Brasileira de Farmácia Antroposófica- FARMANTROPO!
In October the IAAP sent its position paper to the European Commission within the context of the public consultation on the future of pharmaceuticals for human use in Europe. The statement of the IAAP focusses availability of anthroposophic medicinal products as well as on the need of information on anthroposophic medicines available to pharmacists.
In November the IAAP publishes the fully revised second edition of the "Anthroposophic Pharmaceutical Codex, APC".