RELATED LINKS | BACK | WESTERN EUROPE SCOPE OF PRACTICE AND COMPETENCY TRAINING

WESTERN EUROPE Click here on WHO International Digest of Health Legislation to view relevant legislation for competency and scope of practice for to your geographical area.European Commission (part of the membership board of the EMEA) Tel: (32-2) 299 4374 Fax: (32-2) 296 6615 E-mail EMEA European Medicinal Evaluation Agency This agency acts as an agent of quality control with health care products, numerous documents and legislation is on their sight which cab be downloaded from their site or available for a fee. The agency represents 15 European Union countries plus Iceland and Portugal. E-mail European Federation of Oriental Medicine (EFOM) This site is in dutch, however the links are in English. E-mail International Council of Medical Acupuncture and Related Techniques (ICMART) holds a World Congress (from 150-800 participants) every two years with at least one delegate representing each country's member associations, Ministries of Health, City Councils and local faculty of medicine. The education chapter has created a paper on accreditation standards. it is registered with Medline Network on the subjects touching acupuncture and related techniques. They are not unionized and do not interfere with local legislation although have concerns due to the lack of control over education and practice of these techniques in most countries that it is safer when applied by practitioners with a medical (or veterinarian or dentist) degree. E-mail Ministries of Health provide standards for health practice include hazardous waste disposal, particulates, etc. Representatives are active in the EMA Ministries of Veterinary Health provide standards for health practice include hazardous waste disposal, particulates, research,etc. Representatives are active in the EMEA. WHO World Health Organization provides a reknown lists of conditions that acupuncture has successfully treated and documentation and other valuable relevant information from their worldwide data base, including laws that take into consideration training requirements.

UNITED KINGDOM British Acupuncture Council/BAcC - The BAcC requires that practitioners undertake an extensive and thorough training in acupuncture of two years full time or the part-time equivalent, regardless of a person's prior western medical qualification.The BAcC does not consider it appropriate to have taken a one or two weekend course in acupuncture. E-mail Accreditation Boards BAAB The British Acupuncture Accreditation Board is an independent body closely allied o the British Acupuncture Council. The Board's procedures involve a rigorous three-year process of accreditation. Colleges first apply for Candidacy status and if granted carry out an exhaustive self evaluation of their educational methods and standards, according to criteria set out by the Board. Graduates of Accredited or Candidate colleges have automatic right of membership of the Council. For core curriculum requirements and accredited acupuncture colleges, contact the BAAB for acupuncture. Tel: +44 (0) 20 8735 0466 Fax: +44 (0) 20 8735 0477 E-mail National Institute of Medical Herbalists (NIHM) and Accreditation Board provides core curriculum for certification in herbal medicine and accreditation standards and accreditation for herbal medicine programs and is closely involved in the legislation of herbal medicine. They are the founding members of the European Herbal Practitioners Association. Tel: (44/o) 1392 426022 Fax: 44/0 1392 498963 E-mail RCHM Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine provides information on accredited herbal medicine practitioner programs, list of endangered species. See other registries on the Professional Associations link of this site. The education chapter of the International Council of Medical Acupuncture and Related Techniques (ICMART) has created a paper on accreditation standards. E-mail Publications Related to Scope of Practice and Competency British/European Herbal Practitioners Association E/BHPA (has provided a very detailed set of core curriculum standards on line for Chinese Medicine, Western herbal medicine and Ayurvedic Medicine. Has addressed legislation,safety issues on its site and has an extensive list on its site of endangered species. Check site for various e-mail addresses on the website for different questions. Acupuncture: Efficacy, Safety and Practice available from the British Medical Association also contains statements from the National Institutes of Health Consensus Develpoment Statement, (the most well-known and respected reports internationally). There are sections of the study on the efficacy and safety of acupuncture, the ways in which acupuncturists are taught and the future development of the profession. The report also summarizes a BMA survey of general practitioners and their feelings toward complementary and alternative care, and issues recommendations as to how the delivery of acupuncture can be improved. BMA recommends treatment by integrated into national health service. See Review For orders, e-mail: orders@bmjbookshop.com Obtain from the British Acupuncture Council the Health and Safety Codes for Practice, Ethics and Professional Conduct. E-mail

Original Design by Claire Flint / Webmaster: TaoToEarthPMPubs.com