Product approval
H·E·A·R·T UK promotes healthy hearts and better lives and supports patients with inherited high cholesterol and their families. The charity has developed a formal product approval policy.
Key principles
- Why does H·E·A·R·T UK approve products and what are the benefits for the charity?
To identify and draw attention to products that may have beneficial effects on the causes of and contributors to cardiovascular disease (CVD), including raised cholesterol, thus providing helpful information to the public. Product approval provides unrestricted income to support the independent objectives of the charity. Funding is also provided for mutually agreed projects and initiatives in constructive long-term contracted partnerships.
- What are the benefits to consumers?
Consumers can be assured that the nature of the product and evidence supporting the claim have been reviewed by members of H E A R T UK’s Product Approval Working Group (PAWG) who are listed at Annex A. Members of PAWG use a defined set of criteria and a formal process to approve products. This involves evaluation of all relevant scientific and nutritional evidence together with a legal, administrative and financial review. The detailed criteria underpinning H·E·A·R·T UK’s product approval process is available on request.
- How does H·E·A·R·T UK’s Product Approval Working Group function?
All approaches by food organisations and manufacturers are systematically evaluated by PAWG. The first step is for the product to meet agreed nutritional and scientific criteria. If these criteria are met, the organisation and charity work together to establish and develop joint partnership projects which may cover scientific research, patient programmes and appropriate educational publicity. H·E·A·R·T UK levies a non-returnable product approval application fee of £1000 to cover the initial evaluation work involved. There may be additional costs, depending on the complexity of the evaluation according to product type, which will be agreed with the applicant before commitment. H E A R T UK’s product approval process operates in-line with International practice and will adapt as necessary to conform with emerging European and UK legislation.
