Instructions for Entities with Commercial Interest

ADDENDUM 1
Application Instructions for Entities with Commercial Interests:

An entity with commercial interest is any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing healthcare goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients.

As of January 1, 2013, the CNDA is accepting applications from entities with commercial interest. Please review this additional application information which is required from entities with commercial interest prior to submitting an application. All presentations submitted for approval must be completely free of mention of commercial product(s) that includes, but is not limited to, supplements, lab services, books, etc.

  1. In addition to the documents required for all applicants, entities with commercial interest must submit the additional following items upon application:

    1. Full PowerPoint/slide presentations for each presentation, which shall also include a disclosure slide that is the second slide of the presentation. This disclosure slide is to state the following: “This educational activity has been reviewed and approved by the California Naturopathic Doctors Association and contains no commercially biased information.”

    2. A copy of the course syllabus and/or all course handouts. These materials must contain a disclosure statement as follows: “These educational materials have been reviewed and approved by the California Naturopathic Doctors Association and contains no commercially biased information.”

  2. All applications for entities with commercial interest must be submitted at least 6 weeks (42 days) before the program. Rush applications are not accepted for programs sponsored by a commercial entity.

  3. Any promotional product material or conversations about promotional products must take place outside the lecture hall, in a separate room. Participation in any promotional activities must not be required for accreditation attendance.

  4. The CNDA reserves the right to audit any approved activity presented by a commercial interest.

  5. Upon request, an entity with commercial interest must supply the CNDA with the names and contact information of attendees receiving CNDA accreditation for attendance at their educational activity.

  6. The CNDA reserves the right to contact attendees that receive CNDA accreditation for attendance at an activity provided by a commercial interest. The CNDA may conduct interviews by phone or in person regarding the activity to determine if the guidelines for commercial interests were followed.

  7. The CNDA reserves the right to view course materials at any time of a CE event provided by an entity with commercial interest.

  8. The CNDA reserves the right to revoke credits if a conference is not carried out by the standards by which it was approved.

Penalties For Commercial Applicants If Guidelines Are Not Followed

  1. If slides submitted for review contain inappropriate content[1], the application will be denied.

  2. If slides are found to have inappropriate content, each applying party is given one opportunity for feedback and correction of the material with a $300 penalty fee.

  3. The application for a non-compliant activity will not be approved until all penalty fees have been paid.

  4. If an application is denied after the second review the applicant will be charged the full amount of credits applied for, without receiving activity approval

  5. If more than two (2) applications are denied by the same applicant, the applicant will be prohibited from future continuing education application review privileges by the CNDA.

  6. If a program is audited and found not to be in compliance with the originally approved activity, the applicant will be prohibited from future approvals by the CNDA, and will be fined $1,000.


    The CNDA Professional Development Committee holds a very high standard for educational programs approved by the CNDA. These additional application requirements for applicants with a commercial interest are to insure that activities approved by the CNDA are free of any commercial bias. Before submitting your materials, please ensure your materials meet the CNDA application for continuing education guidelines. If you have a question prior to submission, please contact our CE coordinator at admin@calnd.org.

    [1]Inappropriate content refers to slide presentations containing:

  1. Incomplete or illegible or otherwise done in a way that is unprofessional or not respectful of our doctors reviewing time.

  2. Any mention of commercial product or commercial industry.

  3. Any advertising of products with vested interest.