The products which are suitable for use by children are marked by a symbol.

Products which are suitable for children older than two years of age are given this symbol.

Products which are suitable for children older than six years of age are given this symbol
(these products are therefore NOT suitable for younger children).

For most products, the instructions will detail the recommended dosage for children (if the product is suitable for child use). In addition, there is also our special children’s range: “Kids”.

For pregnant women, the following general rule applies: only use products after consultation with your doctor.

For many plants and essential oils - as with many medicines - the effect on the unborn foetus is still unknown. For this reason, it is best not to take any unnecessary risks. Consequently, most of our products carry the symbol

The products which can be safely used by pregnant women do not carry this symbol.

Products which are not suitable for diabetics are marked by this symbol

As a general rule, we do not advise the simultaneous use of more than three products at any one time. Try to leave a pause of at least an hour between the ingestion of the different preparations.

Also avoid the combination of products which have an opposite effect: e.g. valerian for a good night’s sleep and guarana as a pick-me-up.

This notification is legally required for any product which contains more than 10% sorbitol, glycerol or any other product of a similar type. This does not, however, mean that you will automatically experience a laxative effect if you take more than the recommended dose.

It is advisable to inform your doctor of the supplements you are taking, even if they are only vitamins. Just as certain foodstuffs can have an effect on some medicines (e.g. grapefruit juice on heart medicines), so it is also possible for vitamins, minerals and plants to have a similar effect. For most supplements, however, there is no problem.

An exception to this rule is St.John’s wort.

If you are using one of the medicines listed below and if you have been using St.John’s wort for some time, DO NOT STOP your use of the St.John’s wort before first consulting with your doctor.

If you are using one of the medicines listed below and you want to start using St.John’s wort, please note that this is NOT RECOMMENDED.

• Blood-thinning agents of the coumarine type.
• Anti-depressants.
• Medicines to combat HIV (all types)
• Heart medicines: digoxine and related types.
• Standard medicines for organ transplant patients or patients suffering from serious forms of psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, cyclosporine, azathioprine.
• Medicines to combat epilepsy: phenytoine, phenobarbital.
• Medicines to combat asthma: theophylline.
• Antibiotics: rifampicine.
• Contraceptives: the mini-pill.

Like all manufacturers, Biover is subject to Belgian and European legislation.
This legislation requires us to label our products in a particular manner.

For example:

Ingredients: artichoke extract (27%), gelling agent: hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, dandelion extract (15%), boldo extract (9%), St Mary’s-thistle extract (9%), L-methionine, choline citrate, bulking agents: cellulose, calcium phosphate, ethyl cellulose, maltodextrine, inositol, glazing agent: magnesium stearate, anti-caking agent: silicium dioxide, colours: titanium dioxide, copper chlorophyllin.

V = vegetable, M = mineral, A = animal

1. Gelling agent: hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (V) - This is the capsule itself, the VEGECAP, a vegetable outer coating, but with a legal-sounding scientific name.
2. Bulking agents: cellulose (V), calcium phosphate (M), ethyl cellulose (V), maltodextrine (V) - To fill the capsule, the plant extracts must be mixed with fillers. There can be one or more fillers, dependent upon the active ingredients in the formula. As far as possible, we use natural/vegetable fillers. Other possible fillers are starch (V), dextrose (V) and lactose (A).
3. Glazing agent: magnesium stearate (V) - This is added to the outside of the capsule to make it shiny. It also serves as a lubricating agent, so that the powder filling slides easily into the capsule during manufacture.
4. Anti-caking agent: silicium dioxide (M) - Plant powders and extracts have a tendency to quickly absorb moisture from their surroundings. This makes them sticky and unworkable. The addition of silicium dioxide prevents this adhesive process and keeps the powder “mobile”. Silicium dioxide is a mineral - a base component of (sea) sand.
5. Colours: titanium dioxide (M), copper chlorophyllin (V) - These are natural colorants, worked into the vegetable outer coating, to give it its green appearance.

None of the Biover range of products is tested on animals. The suppliers of our raw materials are also asked not to allow their ingredients to be tested on animals.

Why, then, do Biover products not carry a ‘non-animal tested’ logo?

The European guideline 76/768/EEG for cosmetic products is very clear on this point:

Furthermore, the manufacturer or the person responsible for placing the product on the Community market may take advantage, on the product packaging or in any document, notice, label, ring or collar accompanying or referring to the product, of the fact that no animal tests have been carried out only if the manufacturer and his suppliers have not carried out or commissioned any animal tests on the finished product, or its prototype, or any of the ingredients contained in it, or used any ingredients that have been tested on animals by others(*) for the purpose of developing new cosmetic products.

(*) In view of the fact that it is not always possible to know what goes on in other factories/companies and in view of the fact that this means that it is difficult to know with certainty that the ingredients in question have never been tested anywhere in the world on animals, it is in principle not possible - or permissible - to claim ‘non-animal tested’ status. This regulation is applicable to all cosmetic products.

As Biover wishes to comply fully with all relevant legislation, this means that we are unable to make use of the ‘non-animal tested’ logo on our packaging.

Several different types of ‘fatty’ fish are used (such as salmon and herring). The different oils are mixed with each other to provide a constant level and a constant ratio of EPA and DHA.  The oils used are made from the flesh of the fish and not from the liver.

Residues in fish oil

The fish oils used in Biover products comply with the standards set down by the relevant legislation.

• Sum of dioxins: maximum 2 pg WHO-PCDD/F-TEQ* (WHO)/g and sum of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs: max 10 pg/g fat (European Regulation 1881/2006 fixing the maximum levels of contaminants in certain foodstuffs).

• Heavy metals (Royal Decree of 14 June 2002 fixing the maximum level of contaminants, including heavy metals, in certain foodstuffs).

Lead: maximum 1 mg/kg (1 ppm)
Arsenic: maximum 1 mg/kg (1 ppm)
Mercury: maximum 0.2 mg/kg (0.2 ppm)
Cadmium: maximum 0.5 mg/kg (0.5 ppm)

• Pesticides: the fish oils comply with the norms mentioned in the European pharmacopoeia under section 2.8.13 ‘Pesticide Residues’.

* TEQ = toxic equivalents

As we are not experts with regard to the technical aspects of these pieces of equipment, we have put this question to several leading manufacturers:

a) In general, the use of strongly oiled products (e.g. bath oils) in bubble baths is not recommended. Residues can easily become lodged in the piping system, leading to blockage and other problems. If you nevertheless decide to use oil-based products in your bubble bath, a special cleansing programme needs to be followed (contact the manufacturer for details).

b) The use of bath foam does not normally result in residue problems (the product is itself a detergent). Remember to adjust the dose! The bubbling process creates far more foam than usual.

c) Bath salts and sparkling tablets can be used. The preference is for finely-grained products (which you can grind even finer) to prevent blockage of the narrow openings.

d) Undiluted essential oils must never be used in a bath or bubble bath:

° Dilute them in a base oil (see point a above)

° Dilute them in a bath foam (see point b above)

e) Use in steam cabins: dependent upon the type of cabin, the essential oils can be poured into the reservoir provided or into the recess in the top of the steamer. A few drops will be sufficient! For steam cabins which are not specially equipped for the use of essential oils, you can pour a few drops of essential oil onto a natural sponge, which you can then place in the corner of the cabin. This sponge will also be made damp by the warn steam, causing the oils to evaporate.

f) Which essential oils should be used? Check our section ‘aromatherapy - essential oils’. Only use the oils recommended for baths. Never use oils with an irritant effect (lemon, cinnamon, etc.) in a bubble bath or steam cabin. Follow the instructions fully and read the section on ‘safe use’.

g) These types of equipment invariably require special maintenance and cleansing. Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines. The use of additives in such equipment is always at your own risk.