American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) Special Regulatory Counsel Tami Wahl provided an overview of federal regulatory compliance issues pertaining to essential oils during the Alliance of International Aromatherapists' (AIA) 2015 International Aromatherapy Conference and Wellness Expo last week in Denver.
Wahl's presentation, "Successfully Navigating Law and Regulations," focused on the regulatory frameworks for cosmetics and dietary supplements--the two most likely product classes for essential oils in today's market. She also explored current good manufacturing practices, marketing claims, common violations and emerging issues.
"An essential oil product has several options on how to enter the market--as a drug, food, fragrance, cosmetic, supplement, or household good," Wahl told attendees. "A company must determine which pathway best fits the intended use of the product and then be versed with all of the regulations that apply to that product class."
The theme for the AIA event was "Creating Higher Standards for Aromatherapy," and included an array of industry leaders who presented on a variety of topics including the use of aromatherapy in a clinical setting, personal care and other integrative therapies, as well as aromatherapy research.
This conference is a part of the AIA's mission to unite aromatherapists worldwide in an effort to advance research and professionalism within the aromatherapy industry and to provide public education through scientific research and educational programs.