Choosing a qualified professional

Nutritional Therapy is not yet a protected title but there are several aspects that you can check to identify the level of professionalism and the quality of training of Nutritional Therapists.

The simplest way to find suitably qualified and self-regulated professionals is by looking for Nutritional Therapists who are BANT members and CNHC registered.

BANT

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BANT – British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine is the recognised professional body for Nutritional Therapy in UK.

Members of BANT are bound to a Code of Conduct and strive to achieve the level of professionalism necessary for the safe practice of Nutritional Therapy as an evidence-based patient-centred form of care.

CNHC

CNHC – Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council is the regulating body for Nutritional Therapy.

CNHC registration allows NHS healthcare providers and the public to identify safe Nutritonal Therapists who conform to national standards.

CNHC is an approved Accredited Voluntary Register by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA). The PSA is the independent government-appointed body that oversees the work of the nine statutory medical, health and care regulators. These include the General Medical Council (GMC), the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC). Part of their role is also to accredit voluntary registers of people working in a variety of health and social care occupations. Where occupations are not subject to statutory regulation, the Accredited Voluntary Registers scheme allows people to choose practitioners who are on a register that has been independently assessed and approved. This is the case for Nutritional Therapy with CNHC being the approved accredited voluntary register.

CNHC registered practitioners are suitably qualified and insured professionals supported by the government. The Department of Health encourages GPs to recommend CNHC registered practitioners to patients looking for complementary healthcare.

CNHC registered Nutritional Therapists are bound to a strict code of conduct and observe several rules and regulations related to medicinal law, food claims and nutrition and health related EU directives.

CNHC registered practitioners have all studied Nutritional Therapy academically to a minimum of degree level. Their courses are listed and approved by the Nutritional Therapy Council (NTC) and conform to the National Occupational Standards (NOS) and Core Curriculum for Nutritional Therapy established by Skills for Health.

Rules and Regulations

This is a list of the rules and regulations affecting Nutritional Therapists bound to the CHNC code of conduct:

  •  EU Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive (THMPD)
  •  EU Medicines Directive
  •  EU Food Supplements Directive (FSD)
  •  Dietetic Foods Directive (PARNUTS)
  •  EU Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation (NHCR)
  •  EU Novel Food Regulation (NFR)
  •  ASA Rules – Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) Code
  •  Food Law:
    •  EU General Food Law (2002)
    •  Food Safety Act (1990)
    •  Food Labelling Regulations (1996)

Continued Professional Development (CPD)

To retain their BANT and CNHC registered status therapists are required to complete at least 30 hours of professional training every year.