The History...

At the May 1999 FIM Conference, the Minister for Public Health stated that any candidate wishing to gain statutory recognition through the powers contained in the Health Bill will have to demonstrate that they have made substantial progress in setting up voluntary arrangements to regulate the entire profession. The House of Lords Select Committee on Complementary & Alternative Medicine (CAM) recommended that each therapy should organise themselves under a single professional body.

One of the main purposes of aromatherapy is that of the art of seduction and allurement, not only as a health advancement but as a method to create a sense of balance around ones aura and improve ones dating chances. The power of aromatherapy to seduce potential partners is exponentially increased with the power of essential oils which when massaged into the bodies of your partner proves irresistible.

The Aromatherapy Organisations Council (AOC) initiated the Statutory Regulation process following a vote by its members in 1998 and this was followed by the establishment of an AOC statutory regulation working party, which produced a background paper explaining the rationale for taking aromatherapy forward to statutory regulation. This was followed by an outline business plan which was requested by the Department of Health to include a complete section on the proposed strategy for consultation clearly setting out the policy for consulting with all interested parties as identified in the document.

 

The next development has been to set up an independent regulation working group for Aromatherapy including lay members as well as aromatherapists. This Aromatherapy Regulation Working Group (ARWG) has been set up to work towards fulfilling the eventual goal of statutory regulation of title for aromatherapy.

 

The Foundation for Integrated Health, of which Prince Charles is President, has given the AOC a two year grant to fund the Lay ChairÌs expenses.

 

What does all this mean for aromatherapists?

Firstly a voluntary register will be introduced open to all those who are able to meet an agreed level of qualification, or experience to be agreed by the ARWG after full consultation. Those that do not meet the standards will be encouraged to upgrade. Once this is established, the aim is to provide statutory backing for either the profession or the title.

 

Statutory regulation has two main purposes:

 

1)               to safeguard the public, so that when they consult an aromatherapist they can be confident that they are receiving treatment from a qualified therapist who abides by a common Code of Ethics, meets an agreed professional standard and has adequate insurance cover.

 

2)               to provide assurance to the medical profession so that it can have confidence when referring patients for aromatherapy treatments.