What Did We Say to the FDA?

Hey Mother Bears and Other Bears.  As the AFHC Blog Editor, I am pleased to share this exciting announcement here on our blog.

By now you know, and if you do not know, let me give you a bear paw full.  President, Paola Brown, Vice President, Mindy McLane, and Board Member, Allison Stusse submitted a Citizen’s Petition to the FDA on behalf of themselves and Americans for Homeopathy Choice.  Thank you all for your labor of love and your dedication to save homeopathy.

What is a Citizen’s Petition and what does it say?

A Citizen’s Petition, submitted through the Administrative Procedures Act, is a document that requests that a policy or regulation be withdrawn, revised, or issued.  Americans for Homeopathy Choice has exercised the legal right to petition the FDA to remove the Draft Guidance and make the CPG 400.400 a legal regulation.

This is a brief outline of the 23-page petition which the following was requested:

• The FDA establish an expert advisory committee on homeopathy that includes licensed and/or certified homeopathic practitioners/academicians and consumers of homeopathic medicines
• The FDA convert the slightly modified CPG 400.400 into a regulation
• The FDA withdraw its currently pending guidance document, “Drug Products Labeled as Homeopathic: Guidance for FDA Staff and Industry,” issued December 20, 2017 (“Draft Guidance”)
• During the time the FDA considers whether to publish a proposed regulation and until this petition is resolved, it continues to use the CPG 400.400 as the guiding document for homeopathy
• If the FDA fails to grant this petition, hold a public hearing on this matter before enacting the proposed December 2017 guidance

There are many other details to the petition with all the I’s dotted and all the t’s crossed.

What does the Citizen’s Petition accomplish for Americans for Homeopathy Choice?

• This legal plan puts them in the proactive rather than reactive mode. Where previously, they were in a defensive stance reacting to the FDA’s Draft Guidance, currently they are in the offensive mode.  Now, the ball is now in the FDA’s court.
• This tactical approach slows down the FDA’s plans, forces them to hear and review these powerful voices and suggestions.
• This strategic maneuver allows momentum to be gained as this movement snowballs into an avalanche with Congress, the public, and you the volunteers.

I have written what they said in baby bear bites.  What can you do and say to promote the cause?  Use this six-step call to action:  read, send, write, send, share, and donate.

1. Read the petition. Knowledge is power.
2. Send your Representative (Congressperson/Senator) form letters from the website and continue to connect and create relationships with them.
3. Write your own unique comment to the FDA giving your full support to Americans for Homeopathy Choice citizen’s petition. Be respectful as you add your comments and experiences with homeopathy.  Remember, you get more bears with honey.
4. Send your Representatives (Congressperson and Senators) a second message with a copy of your comment to the FDA. The more messages you send, the better and they will recognize that you are in this to win it.
5. Share on social media and tell your friends and family that their freedom to choose is at risk.
6. Donate, donate, donate by becoming a monthly bear pack giver of $25 monthly or more.

Click here for a detailed guide to the call to action steps above at Americans for Homeopathy Choice.

Continue to support and log on frequently to stay well-informed with the progress and plans to keep homeopathy safe.  I am pleased to be a part of this movement, and I hope you are too.

Always with the power to choose,

Harriet Noel Jones