A new regulatory body called The Natural Healthcare Council (NHC) is due to launch in the UK in April 2008.

The NHC will set the standards across a range of complementary therapies, such as homeopathy and aromatherapy, across the UK. It will also have the power to strike off those who are deemed incompetent, encouraging enhanced consumer confidence and safety.

It has been designed on a best practice model, as set out by the Department of Health in its White Paper on regulation called Trust, Assurance and Safety.

The NHC will be voluntary in status, so individuals who practise a complementary therapy may choose to register with it, but do not have to do so.

If a practitioner does register, they will have to meet certain entry requirements, such as having a recognised qualification, and they will also subscribe to a stipulated set of professional standards which, if breached, could result in their removal from the register.

Therapies which have participated in developing the regulator are Alexander technique, Bowen technique, cranial therapy, homeopathy, massage therapy, naturopathy, nutritional therapy, shiatsu and yoga therapy.

Aromatherapists, reflexologists and reiki practitioners will also be eligible to join the register, although their professional bodies have not yet formally become involved in the NHC.

The government is also currently awaiting a report from a Working Group on the regulation of acupuncture, herbal medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is due to consider over this year whether or not to proceed with statutory regulation of these therapies.