ANP Quarterly Policy & Practice Report

Q2 2026 | April – June 2026

Executive Summary

During the second quarter of 2026, ANP strengthened its role as a leading advocate for the naturopathic profession by increasing engagement with national policy, supporting member participation in public consultations, monitoring regulatory developments, and representing members at high-level healthcare and sector events.

Key priorities this quarter included influencing public health policy, protecting access to nutritional supplements, promoting sustainable food systems, supporting professional standards, and identifying opportunities arising from the NHS’s transition towards neighbourhood-based healthcare.  

Policy Influence & Advocacy

ANP continued to provide timely analysis of emerging UK and European policy developments, ensuring members remained informed of changes likely to affect professional practice.

Significant areas of activity included:

  • Supporting member engagement with the UK Government consultation on improving children’s diets, encouraging practitioners to contribute clinical evidence to national nutrition policy.
  • Raising awareness of proposed planning reforms that could accelerate expansion of intensive livestock farming and mobilising members to engage directly with MPs on issues affecting environmental sustainability, animal welfare and public health.
  • Monitoring the relaunch of the Women’s Health Strategy, identifying new opportunities for naturopathic practitioners within evolving government priorities around prevention, chronic disease management and personalised care.
  • Reporting on the High Court judgment concerning gene-edited foods, providing members with early analysis of potential implications for food transparency, consumer choice and future regulation.

Impact

ANP has continued to provide of policy intelligence, enabling members to engage proactively with policy developments rather than responding once decisions have been made.

Protecting the Profession

A significant focus this quarter has been safeguarding the professional environment in which members practise.

ANP monitored several regulatory developments, including:

  • proposed EU maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals;
  • the launch of Ireland’s Save Our Supplements campaign;
  • advocacy by ANH Europe promoting a balanced risk-benefit model for micronutrient regulation;
  • publication of the revised General Naturopathic Council Complaints Procedure;
  • implementation of new obligations under the Data Use and Access Act 2025, with practical compliance guidance provided to members.

Impact

By providing early warning of regulatory developments and practical implementation advice, ANP has helped members prepare for legislative change while supporting high standards of professional governance and protecting continued access to nutritional interventions central to clinical practice.

Professional Leadership

ANP continued to champion evidence-informed naturopathic practice and contribute to wider professional debate.

This quarter included promotion of the emerging concept of Nature-Based Evidence, recognising the importance of research methodologies capable of evaluating whole-person interventions, clinical complexity and real-world outcomes alongside conventional evidence-based medicine.

ANP also supported practitioner education through dissemination of resources examining environmental health, including glyphosate, GMOs and chronic disease.

Impact

These activities reinforce ANP’s leadership role in advancing the scientific credibility of naturopathic practice while encouraging ongoing professional development.

Strategic Representation

ANP maintained a visible presence across both the natural healthcare sector and mainstream health policy landscape.

Highlights included:

Homeopathy UK Gala

ANP represented members at the Homeopathy UK Gala, strengthening relationships across the complementary healthcare community during a period of renewed confidence and collaboration within the profession.

NHS ConfedExpo

ANP attended NHS ConfedExpo to monitor implementation of the NHS’s emerging Neighbourhood Health model.

A clear strategic theme emerged: increasing investment in prevention, integrated community services and long-term condition management delivered closer to home.

This aligns closely with the expertise of naturopathic practitioners and creates potential opportunities for greater engagement with local health systems, social prescribing initiatives and future integrated care pathways.

Impact

Attendance ensured ANP remains well positioned to identify future opportunities for the profession and engage early with developing NHS policy.

Member Engagement

Throughout the quarter ANP actively encouraged members to participate in campaigns and consultations affecting public health and professional practice.

Campaigns supported included:

  • Children’s Nutrition Consultation
  • Factory Farming campaign
  • Soil Association Cut the Chemicals
  • Save Our Supplements
  • ANH Europe advocacy on supplement regulation

These initiatives reinforced ANP’s commitment to empowering members to contribute their expertise to national conversations on nutrition, sustainability and healthcare policy.

Looking Ahead

Over the coming quarter ANP will continue to:

  • monitor UK and European legislation affecting naturopathic practice;
  • advocate for proportionate regulation of nutritional supplements;
  • strengthen engagement with NHS prevention and neighbourhood health programmes;
  • identify opportunities to increase the profession’s influence within integrated healthcare;
  • support members through timely policy briefings, practical guidance and advocacy campaigns.

Overall Outcome

This quarter demonstrates ANP’s continued evolution as both a professional membership organisation and an effective policy voice for naturopathic nutrition. Through proactive policy surveillance, strategic representation, regulatory engagement and member mobilisation, ANP has continued to protect members’ interests while strengthening the profession’s visibility within wider healthcare and public policy discussions.

Post Views: 6