CLEAR CHECK Services

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Comprehesive reviews of labels, and any Business-to-Consumer Communication Materials

CLEAR CHECK is a business-to-business service which provides manufacturers and suppliers of specialist health products a review of labels and communication material to achieve compliance while maximising commercial advantage.

We provide a comprehensive reviews of labels, marketing materials, and promotional content and any business-to-consumer communication materials intended for use in the public domain, plus podcast advertisement reviews. New for this year, we are offering expert regulatory support for pet supplements and animal feed, including thorough label and marketing copy review to ensure compliance and clarity.

CLEAR CHECK will Sign and Stamp all approved copy to indicate compliance with the HFMA Code of Advertising Practice, which is assured by our Trading Standards Primary Authority. A product-specific Certificate of Compliance can also be issued, upon request.

The CLEAR CHECK review is recognised by major retailers, providing users of the service with a defence of having taken all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence with regard to the compliance of their copy.

Advice and Support

CLEAR CHECK liaises with the European Federation of Associations of Health Product Manufacturers (EHPM) member Secretariats, and constantly scans the regulatory horizon for any upcoming changes that might impact our industry. Their broad and up-to-date knowledge can also benefit companies in the following ways:

Regulatory advice by telephone or email
‘CLEAR CHECK Stamp’ for compliant copy
Training sessions tailored to the needs of companies
Regular information and alerts via mailouts, webinars, meetings and events (HFMA members only)
Provision of Guidance Notes for example – Food Supplements presentation to the UK market

Service fees

Telephone Enquiries	The first 10 minutes (5 minutes for non-members) of initial enquiries are not chargeable. After that, the hourly rate applies.
HMFA Member	£86.00 per hour + VAT
HFMA Non-Member	£165.00 per hour + VAT
Certificates of Compliance	£50.00 per certificate + VAT (additional certificates requested at the same time are charged at a rate of £10 per certificate + VAT)
Urgent Surcharge	35% of the Net invoice amount + VAT.
CLEAR CHECK stamp renewal review	20% discount on a previously submitted Labelling and Marking literature which has received a CLEAR CHECK stamp within the last two years.

Review Procedure Information

The material submitted is reviewed by a Regulatory Advisor for compliance with the principles of the HFMA Code of Advertising Practice, with reference to:

the relevant labelling or advertising regulations
the terms of the marketing authorisation or product licence/registration, where applicable
government and industry guidelines
other relevant codes of practice

Advice on any required/recommended alterations is then provided. Where available, the Regulatory Advisor will provide guidelines on subjects relevant to the material submitted. In the case of issues not clearly defined in the regulations, current industry practice and the current approach of the authorities are taken into account to determine the suitability of a proposal.

Note that the following areas are outside the scope of the Code and are not routinely considered as part of the review:

accuracy and efficacy of formulation, except in relation to appropriateness of claims
the safety of ingredients and finished product
the accuracy of declared quantities in final product
the accuracy of GM status claims and other negative-presence claims
the determination of novel ingredient/food status
the content of any referenced websites, publications or similar [separate review of these materials can be carried out]

Agreement and the review stamp

When agreement has been reached on suitable copy, the copy is returned stamped with a reference number.

The review stamp conveys compliance with the principles of the HFMA Code of Advertising Practice and is provided based on current scientific opinion and current regulatory and industry practice. Until a body of case law has been built up to form the basis of an authoritative statement, advice on the law and application of the regulations can be given as informed opinion only.

The copy should be resubmitted for review every two years if it is still in use. At times, changes in the law, codes of practice or interpretation may necessitate an earlier review.

The review stamp does not constitute an endorsement or approval of the product or services offered, nor should it be regarded as a guarantee of the legality of the product. It remains the responsibility of the manufacturer/supplier/importer to ensure that the product placed on the market meets its claims.

If you would like more information, please do not hesitate to Contact us.

CLEAR CHECK liaises with other EHPM member Secretariats, and constantly scans the regulatory horizon for any upcoming changes that might impact the industry. Their broad and up-to-date knowledge can also benefit companies in the following ways:

Regulatory advice by telephone or email
Training sessions tailored to the needs of companies
Regular mailouts, updates and webinars (HFMA members only)

Pet Supplement and Feed

It is estimated that the pet food market is worth around £3 billion annually. Pet food is highly regulated to guarantee hygiene, safety and quality standards. We now offer pet supplements and animal feed regulatory support and label and marketing copy review services within the CLEAR CHECK portfolio of services.

Legislation applies from primary production to placing animal feed on the market and feeding of domestic and food-producing animals.

The worldwide pet supplement market is estimated to increase in line with the increased awareness of pet health and supplement innovation. Equally, the pet supplement online market segment is expected to increase driven by a demand for accessibility and convenience with a need to complaint web copy to allow the consumer to compare options, read reviews and make an informed choice.

Please send your regulatory queries and copy review requests to clearcheck@hfma.co.uk