Europe

While no doubt welcome, yet another delay to the EU Deforestation Law and suggestion for another review next year could mean a “never-ending” regulatory exercise that creates uncertainty for manufacturers selling products containing or having been made using materials like palm oil, soya and wood.

UK consumer healthcare industry association, PAGB, suggests improvements that could help accelerate Rx-to-OTC switch in the country.

A new cohort of “techno-enthusiasts” who are highly susceptible to misinformation and inappropriate self-care decisions are undermining Italy's responsible self-medication model, finds a report by Italian self-care industry association, Assosalute, and independent researcher Censis.

In the second part of a special Self-Care Week episode of Over the Counter, HBW Insight speaks to PAGB CEO Michelle Riddalls about what the association is doing to promote self-care.

Self-Care Week Special: HBW Insight catches up with PAGB CEO Michelle Riddalls OBE to talk about what the association is doing to promote Rx-to-OTC switch in the UK.

“It’s not good enough just to provide products anymore, we need to create a service and a holistic approach to products,” argued Bayer Consumer Health's Northern Europe general manager, Mike Knowland, speaking at a recent panel event in the UK Parliament.

EllaOne manufacturer Perrigo tells HBW Insight that Community Pharmacy England's decision to offer free emergency contraception is "the right move for women" but also "makes pharmacy training and sex education more important than ever."

Lots of young people in the UK are having unprotected sex, but are not using emergency contraception or do not understand very well how it works, according to a recent Perrigo survey.

Brits are consuming insufficient amounts of vitamin D, riboflavin, folate, iron, calcium, potassium, iodine, selenium and omega 3, according to a recently published study. Consumer health companies can help by providing affordable supplements with easy to understand health claims.

EU legislation aimed at controlling at source emerging pollutants such commonly used OTC analgesics like ibuprofen and diclofenac and “forever chemicals” like perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) edges closer to adoption.

Karo says adding MTick certification to selected products helps menopausal women “make confident, informed choices when they need it most” and also represents a “significant business opportunity.”

P&G expands its WICK range with a new natural line of cough syrups; Angelini introduces a guideline-compliant Tantum Verde Duo throat spray; Zentiva adds a children’s fever product to its Ibuflam brand.

Women in England are now eligible to access the morning after pill for free from their community pharmacy. Maxwellia CEO Anna Maxwell welcomes the move, but warns that the service must be balanced with OTC options because “waiting, even for a free service, may simply not be an option.”

Haleon, Colgate-Palmolive and other manufacturers have changed the way they manufacturer toothpaste tubes to be sold in the UK so they can be all be technically recycled.

Young people are even more enthusiastically adopting artificial intelligence, notes consulting firm Simon-Kucher in its latest Better Health Report, with 81% of 18-to-28-year-olds reporting that AI has a role to play in their health-related decision making.

“The European Commission’s work on harmonizing maximum levels of vitamins and minerals should fully reflect the positive role that food supplements can play in safely and effectively addressing micronutrient gaps,” insists Food Supplements Europe chair Peter Loosen.

HBW Insight speaks to AESGP's governmental and public affairs manager, Luis Rhodes Baiao, about the association's Self-Care Insight and Inspire platform, which brings together inspiring self-care initiatives from across Europe.

The NHS App should direct users to trusted, external OTC brand resources where appropriate, says PAGB in its latest report.

Cemag Care may be behind the recent Rx-to-OTC switch of menstrual health treatment tranexamic acid (1000mg) in France.

“Our new range of own label medicines have now launched in store and that’s why we’ve partnered with PAGB, who provide expert regulatory and policy guidance and support in an evolving and complex sector,” explains the UK retail chain, which has become PAGB's 100th member.