Homeopathic Package Data

 

 

 

‘Taking the Case’ and Gathering Data About US Customs and FDA Inspections of Homeopathic Packages Coming in to the US

Do You or Your Clients Order Homeopathic Products from International Pharmacies?  Let Us Know About Your Packages

  • The checking of packages coming through US Customs by the FDA is not NEW – there have been reports of remedy packages opened or held or refused/returned over the past several years.
  • We do not know the extent of the current vetting of packages entering the US from foreign homeopathic pharmacies. Maybe it is very few; maybe it is most. Short or long delays for those who ordered. Items inspected and sent on to recipient undisturbed or returned to sender. We have no data on this.
  • Let’s take this opportunity to team up together. Inspired by Hahnemann, let’s ‘take the case’ of this situation by gathering data. Join us. We will share the tallied results.

For each package of remedies you order that comes through US Customs, please add your data to our tally.

Package Status - Check all that apply *

Here are actions to take now:

  • Be aware that you or your colleagues, clients, friends or family who order from international homeopathic pharmacies may receive a package with a large red sticker from the FDA.
  • Share factual information with your clients, friends or family, using concise statements such as: “The FDA is inspecting some packages coming through customs. We are learning more about this now. You may see a sticker on products you order.”
  • Confirm with clients, friends or family that these large red stickers do not mean there is anything wrong with the remedies they received. Reduce their stress and fear with factual statements – being aware of the possibility in advance is helpful.
  • Continue to order from international pharmacies as you have been, marking your calendar with the order date and expected arrival date – monitor the status to notice if a package appears to be delayed.
  • Discuss with colleagues and friends in person, by phone or through email, rather than social media. Share this email with colleagues and others where appropriate.
  • Stick with the facts we know: some packages of remedies are being examined by the FDA in Customs, then sent on to the recipient.
  • Build package inspection data for our community by entering info about each package you receive from an international pharmacy in a simple survey form. Homeopaths can use this form for their clients’ remedy shipments as well as for their own packages.
  • Find out who your local Homeopathy Action Team (HAT) contact is for the area where you live.  For the HUB, our Homeopathic Action Team contact is Samantha Conboy, CCH.  As we go forward, accurate data about the FDA examinations of packages may become a relevant talking point with  legislators.

Here are actions to avoid:

  • Don’t conjecture or make assumptions about the FDA’s actions – we are gathering data so that we can make reasonable conclusions when we can quantify the situation.
  • Don’t search the internet about FDA warnings and then click through, increasing hit rates on those webpages
  • Don’t share or discuss on social media about these international package inspections. The homeopathic profession does not benefit from social media messaging on this topic.
  • Don’t contact the FDA with complaints about their package examination actions.
  • Don’t stop ordering from international pharmacies as you have been in the past.