As the authoritative voice of the natural health industry, the HFMA supports the interests of its members with legislators and regulators; promotes industry best practice for product quality and safety; and provides responsible information for consumers.

Maurice Hanssen Award of Honour 2009

The Health Food Manufacturers’ Association (HFMA) has announced Professor Arnold Beckett OBE, PhD, DSc as the deserving winner of this year’s Maurice Hanssen Award of Honour, at the Natural & Organic Products Europe show on the 12th April.

The natural health industry’s greatest accolade has been awarded to Arnold posthumously in acknowledgement of his outstanding commitment to pharmacological innovation and his achievements in the natural and complementary health sector.

A renowned pharmacologist, Arnold began his career in 1959 when he was appointed head of the pharmacy department at Chelsea College of Science and Technology, a position which he held for 27 years, and where, under his leadership the department established itself as a distinguished academic centre.

Never one to accept flawed bureaucracy, especially from regulators and authority, Arnold used his tough scientific questioning to address a great many industry concerns over the decades, including the unjustified attempt to ban higher levels of vitamin B6, and offer unstinting support to natural products and complementary medicines.

A scientist of global importance, Arnold was greatly involved in product quality standards, from propolis to the fingerprinting of herbals, as well as product development and this is perhaps most evident in his role as Vitabiotics’ non-executive Chairman, where he worked closely with its founder, Dr Kartar Lalvani, for 18 years on many ground-breaking innovations.

Arnold’s professional posts have included President of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, Chairman of the Board of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and a member of the Medicinal Commission of the International Olympic Committee. As well as honorary doctorates and many national and international awards, Professor Beckett was awarded the OBE in 1983.

Paying tribute to Arnold’s invaluable contribution, HFMA Chairman John Redman commented: “Arnold’s scientific achievements, including his pioneering work on doping in sport, and his development of many of the UK’s most widely used nutraceuticals, make him a thoroughly deserving winner of this esteemed award. Arnold is sorely missed, not only by his family, friends and acquaintances, but also by the industry itself, and colleagues may like to know that a Memorial Service is being held for Professor Beckett on 25th June, at King’s College London Chapel at the Strand. It is an honour for the HFMA to announce Professor Arnold Beckett as this year’s Maurice Hanssen Award winner.”

The HFMA – the voice of the UK’s natural health industry since 1965 - represents around 120 manufacturers and suppliers of natural health products and founded the HFMA Award of Honour in 1995, when it was presented to Dame Barbara Cartland.

In 2005 the award was changed to the HFMA Maurice Hanssen Award of Honour in memory of Maurice, who received the award in 2001. Other past winners include Ian Martin, Roger Lane, Colin Tophill, Keith Pollitt, Kell Sainsbury, Ray Hill, Penny Viner, Brian McLoughlin, Sue Croft, Derek Shrimpton, Jan De Vries and last year’s winner, Rand Skolnick.

HFMA Health Journalist 2009

The HFMA Health Journalist of the Year Award 2009 has been awarded to Sarah Hartley at the Natural and Organic Products Europe on the 12th April.
The prestigious honour, awarded by members of the HFMA (Health Food Manufacturers’ Association), is a prized title amongst serious, progressive health writers and broadcasters.
Sarah Hartley has been editor of the Health section of the Mail on Sunday since it was introduced two years ago, after four years as deputy editor of the Property section. She started out as an intern at The Times in their Washington bureau in 1992, and later worked as assistant features editor on the paper, before becoming a commissioning editor on the Daily Mail. She is also the author of Mrs P's Journey, the true story of Phyllis Pearsall, the woman who walked the streets of London in 1936 to map the first A-Z.

In presenting the award, HFMA Chairman John Redman praised Sarah Hartley’s knowledge and dedication to the health arena:

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to recognise Sarah’s contribution to communicating important health messages across a variety of national media and therefore reaching a wide audience. As one member commented, Sarah is ‘open and responsive’ and as such is hugely supportive of the industry. To the public she offers reassuring advice that is backed by research, is current and precise.”

Commenting on her award win, Sarah said: “I'm really thrilled – and especially pleased as past winners are all writers I admire”.

The HFMA – the voice of the UK’s natural health industry since 1965 - represents around 120 manufacturers and suppliers of natural health products and founded the Health Journalist of the Year Award in 1996. Past winners have included Dr Chris Steele, Dr Thomas Stuttaford, Dr Mark Atkinson, Michael van Straten, Dr Sarah Brewer, Amanda Ursell, Jennifer Harper-Deacon and last year’s winner, Gill Cox.