By LARA PICKFORD-GORDON Tuesday, September 7 2010

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PROTEST: Herbalist Philip Franco speaks during his protest yesterday outside the Ministry of Health on Park Street, Port of Spain. ...

Phillip Franco, Naturopath/Herbalist yesterday staged a one-man protest outside the Health Ministry on Park Street, Port-of-Spain against the practices of the ministry’s Food and Drug Division which he said were hampering his business. He is calling for an investigation into the Division.

The owner of Natural Balance, natural medicine clinic currently has a shipment of goods (digestive enzymes and flaxseed oils) which has been awaiting approval by the F&D since August 26.

On August 30, Franco’s broker was told that they would be contacted, but this has not happened. Last month another shipment was also delayed..

“These goods are perishable, have short expiries, and are incurring unnecessary costs” a release from Franco stated.

Obstructive actions of the F&D were listed as: prohibitive and unfair registration process for herbal and alternative medicine, lack of accountability and transparency, unnecessary sample taking, unreasonable labelling requirements, lack of consistency, oppressive attitude of F&D staff.

The protest began at 9 am and speaking to media on the steps of the ministry, Franco said the problems getting approvals have been occurring for the past 11 years he has been in business, and the struggle has escalated.

Franco said importers of food and pharmaceuticals have also been experiencing problems. Approvals are usually given verbally and the criteria to be met is not always constant. He described the unit as operating as a “law unto themselves. When they tell you no, what recourse do you have?”

Franco has written to the ministers of Health, Trade and Industry and Legal affairs about his concerns, but said “nobody is stepping up to help”.

Questioned why he took issue last month with the Director of F&D asking him for a detailed list of the imported items, the ingredients and manufacturers, Franco said he did not have a problem with the F&D trying to protect the health of the nation, but had issue with the manner in which the F&D was trying to regulate the sector.

A suggestion was made for the Division to record all the products coming into the country. Franco said the F&D was using regulations for the natural medicine industry which were not even passed by the parliament. He said the registration process was obstructive and did not facilitate business.

Franco claimed the regulations were drafted without widespread consultation by stakeholders. While he went through the process of getting approvals, other persons were bringing goods into the country via the “barrel trade” or via relatives without undergoing the same checks, and the F&D did not take action.

Although several letters were sent without a response from the ministry, Franco’s demonstration did get a response from Chief Medical Officer, Dr Anton Cumberbatch, who invited him to a meeting after 10 am. “He was cordial, very understanding. He said he would meet with the F&D staff.”

Although Franco was invited to be at the meeting he declined because he believed the ministry should be aware of his concerns as he has written many times.

Franco told Newsday that Cumberbatch indicated that the ministry was looking at the regulations and “how they will change it. We want the total dismantling of it”. Franco is awaiting feedback from the ministry. He called for other businesses to add their voices to his call for reform at the F&D.