PASMI’s position on trade in food supplements in open-access pharmacies

PASMI Polish Association of Self Medication Industry, having in mind the development of  food category, namely food supplements, and the importance for patients to stay in good health, is of the opinion that the said category of products should remain in pharmacy sales.

As an organisation representing food supplement producers, but also producers of medicinal products, medical devices and cosmetics, we favour introduction of solutions, which in the case of food supplement advertisements, protect consumers and patients against being misled as regards the characteristics of this category. PASMI and 3 organisations representing entities operating on the food supplement market developed a Code of Practice for advertising food supplements, which brings substantial changes within allowable advertising content. Observing by producers the constraints relating to the content targeted at information recipients will considerably differentiate the food category, i.e. food supplements, from medicines. The sector’s self-regulation is the first step towards patients’ and consumers’ education which should be reflected in further educational campaigns.

PASMI believes that such a self-regulation of the sector and additional strengthening of the control from the level of GIS [Chief Sanitary Inspectorate], and also vertical integration of departments responsible for market inspections within food supplements and amendment to the Act on the safety of food and nutrition constitute directions introducing a significant change in the supervision and perception of this category of food by patients and consumers.

PASMI is of the opinion that a patient should have a guarantee of proper quality of products which affect the health in each sales channel. Pursuant to Article 19 of the Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and the Council the full liability for the health quality of marketed foodstuff and the content of information published on its packaging or presentation and advertisement is held by the producer or a business marketing the foodstuff. Thus, increasing the control proportionally to the food supplement market growth will lead to the market regulation as regards the quality of this category of products.

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PASMI Polish Association of Self Medication Industry promotes the responsible self-medication among the society through a conscious and safe use of products classified as drugs sold without Prescription. It pursues to establish relevant legal and systematic solutions for the development of the responsible use of OTC drugs as one of the elements of the healthcare system.

PASMI cooperates actively with European organisations whose goals and operations are in line with the statutory activity of PASMI. PASMI is a member of AESGP – Association of the European Self-Medication Industry. Currently, the Association has 16 members: Aboca, A&D Pharma, Bayer, GSK, Johnson&Johnson, Omega Pharma Poland, Pfizer, Pierre-Fabre, Polpharma, Reckitt Benckiser, Sanofi, Takeda, Teva, USP Zdrowie, Verco, Walmark.

Members PASMI

Aboca
Adamed
Bayer
Biocodex
GSK
Haleon
IPSEN
IPSEN
JNJ
logo-jnj
KF
KLOSTERFRAU
MagnaPharm
Omega
logo-omega-pharma
P&G Health

P&G Health

Polpharma
Polski Lek
RB
logo-rb
Sanofi
logo-sanofi
TEVA
Teva Polska
TZF

<TZF

USP Zdrowie
Verco
verco

Supporting Members