The Aromatherapy Council has now reverted back to being the Lead Body for Aromatherapy now that two new federal regulators will exist from 2008. It will be run by the professional associations, including the AAPA who will continue to represent its member’s interests by remaining in the forefront of aromatherapy standards in the UK.

Federal regulation basically means that instead of being able to register for one therapy, as you did for the Aromatherapy Council in 2007 as a single voluntary self regulatory body, you will now be able to register all of the therapies you practice under one voluntary self-regulatory body for all of the complementary therapy professions. This will be easier for the public and of course easier for therapists as well as being cheaper than it would be if each therapy had opted for a single regulatory body.

The key word is that this is voluntary regulation, so it is up to individual therapists to choose whether or not they want to be registered. We would certainly recommend to our members that they consider their option.

One federal regulator called the General Council for Complementary Therapists has already launched. Its website is www.grcct.org.uk . The second federal regulator is expected to launch in 2008 and we will post the details on our website as soon as we have the details. This other body will be called the Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council.

The Aromatherapy Council will continue to be the voice of the profession and supply the necessary board members for both federal regulators. It has also set up a checking facility so that the public knows what to look for in an aromatherapist in order to recognise those who choose not to register but do have the agreed national qualifications and are full members of professional associations like the AAPA with insurance as these aromatherapists are just as safe and well qualified. They can all say that they are AC Recognised.