Wednesday, September 19, 2007

09/19/07 - Eco Friendly Packaging; SOPs up to date?


VLUeM – 09.19.07 - VITAMIN LAWYER UPDATE e-MEMO

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1. Health Freedom Blog Update
2. More EU machinations
3. Eco-friendly packaging
4. Boomers and Dietary Supplements…
5. Are your SOPs up to date?
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SEPTEMBER 19: Fairfield, New Jersey, 7pm. Dr. Laibow, Gen. Stubblebine III, Ralph Fucetola (the Vitamin Lawyer), Prof. Murray Sabrin (spokesperson for Presidential candidate and US Congressman Ron Paul) and a spokesperson for Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich are guest speakers at the Health Freedom vs. Health Tyranny Rally.

VFW Post 7925, 45 Plymouth Road, Fairfield, NJ. 937-227-9600.
Your Rights to Natural Health Care are in Jeopardy!

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1. Vitamin Lawyer Health Freedom Blog New Posting
http://vitaminlawyerhealthfreedom.blogspot.com/

Asking Congress to demand FDA reporting on AERs
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2. Does the situation in Europe portend developments here?

The FDA’s public policy of “harmonizing” with international regulations suggests so. Here is a report on what is happening in Europe, a potential market for many US dietary supplements and model for US regulators.

“…the harmonization process for EU food laws, including maximum mineral and vitamin levels, has "a long way to go" before completion. European Advisory Services (EAS) said the "vastly different national approaches" currently in place will continue to impact on companies launching onto the European marketplace. Manager of scientific and regulatory affairs Efi Leontopoulou also stressed the strategic importance of the evolving regulatory climate in non-EU countries such as Russia and Turkey, which she described as being "two complex but very promising markets for the food industry." She added that: "Bulgaria and Romania have recently joined the EU and this creates new market opportunities but also more challenges in terms of the harmonization process."

A lengthy wait is predicted due to the number or rules and complexity of the current situation, but EAS was unable to say how long this might take prior to publication. The warning means that uncertainty about what may or may not be imposed for minerals and vitamins will continue to spread through the industry. Some countries could suffer a blow if EU legislation were to proscribe the sale of high dose products or vice versa. In the UK, for example, high dose products account for 12 to 15 per cent of the £220m vitamin and mineral market and could experience trouble... Member states at the moment vary dramatically on maximum and minimum levels, which would come to an end once Europe-wide unification is imposed.

Yesterday NutraIngredients.com reported how lobbyists from Consumers for Health Choice have pleaded with the commission president José Manuel Barroso to not stay away from a heavy-handed approach to maximum levels. The setting of maximum levels forms part of the 2002 Food Supplements Directive, and the new with fortified foods regulation...

"Working with all of these different national legislations in Europe can be quite a minefield for companies, from issues such as the addition of nutrients to foods and the types of ingredients permitted in countries, to details on new product notification requirements and national approaches towards derogations for vitamins and minerals."

…A working party of Member States is expected to sit down and discuss maximum health claims next week, and the Commission is expected to propose a directive with actual figures in 2009.”

www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=79835&m=1NIE918&c=jegwylrviswtnqa
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3. Eco-friendly packaging

A recent issue of a nutrition industry magazine carried an interesting article on eco-friendly packaging. The two newest offerings are Polyactide (PLA) plastic bottles (made from corn and readily biodegradable) and Tetra Paks. The PLA is colorful, costs less than petroleum-based plastic and uses less energy to produce. The Tetra Paks, vaguely rectangular in shape, are mostly recyclable paper, but with a special aseptic process that allows liquids long shelf life without degrading the ingredients high temperatures, irradiation, etc.

Tetra Pak is at: www.tetrapak.com and you can Google “Polyactide bottles” for a number of links.

From “Design of the Times” September 2007 Nutrition Industry Executive – www.niemagazine.com

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4. Vitamins, minerals and boomers…

“Men and women over the age of 51 who regularly take dietary supplements are more likely to get adequate amounts of several vitamins and minerals than those who do not, a study suggests. Researchers writing in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association also found that a substantial portion of people in this age range do not get enough vitamins and minerals from their diet alone and the use of supplements is necessary. Not only do these results give the supplements industry a boost, but they could also help supplement providers in deciding which age group to target with marketing, as well as giving a clear indicator of what nutrients should be included… They concluded that a large "proportion of older adults do not consume sufficient amounts of many nutrients from foods alone. Supplements compensate to some extent, but only an estimated half of this population uses them daily…”

www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=79836&m=1NIE918&c=jegwylrviswtnqa

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5. Are your SOPs up to date?

With the imposition of new regulations this year, including the long-awaited Good Manufacturing Practices, are your Standard Operating Procedures up to date? Take a look at my standard SOP format outline at: http://tinyurl.com/2eu6yj and let me know how if can help your company organize for future success!

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