Recently there has been misinformation circulating among the numerous Canadians who use Natural Health Products.  There are some within the industry who do not want to be regulated at all, and who are trying to scare people to achieve their political goal.  I want to set the record straight.  

Rumours about price increases or restricted availability of Natural Health Products because of Bill C-51 are false.  The Minister of Health owns no shares in any pharmaceutical company.  An inspector will still require a search warrant to enter any private dwelling, as is the case now. Allegations that Natural Health Products will have to be prescribed by doctors, or that the Government is targeting Natural Health Products for inspection or fines, are untrue.  The compliance policy in use for the last four years will continue unchanged.  Bill C-51 will not make it more difficult to license Natural Health Products, which have been regulated as a unique category (not food or drugs) since 2004.  They will continue to be regulated in the same way when Bill C-51 becomes law.  

Responsible businesses have no cause to be concerned over Bill C-51; in fact, this Bill will “level the playing field” for businesses which now have to compete with less responsible entities. 

Since introducing the Bill earlier this year, extensive stakeholder consultations were held, and we listened to concerns raised.

In order to include the ideas we heard, we are putting forward proposed amendments to Bill C-51 for discussion and consideration in the weeks ahead.

These proposed amendments will be debated by the Health Committee in Fall 2008; opposition politicians and members of the public will have many opportunities to have input into the final Bill.

I would encourage you to visit www.healthycanadians.ca.  There you will find more information about C-51 and Natural Health Products, including a question and answer section that contains questions taken from actual letters like yours.  If you need more information there is also an interactive area of the website where you can submit your own questions and receive a personal answer, or a 1-800 number where an operator will provide you with more information.  As well, please see the attached fact sheet to better indicate our Government’s intent within the amended Bill C-51.

In the future, under a modernized Food and Drugs Act, the numbers and variety of Natural Health Products will continue to grow, and Canadians can be confident that they will freely be able to access innovative, safe and effective Natural Health Products.

Merv Tweed

MP Brandon-Souris

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FACT SHEET

Bill C-51 and the Regulation of
Natural Health Products Facts

Natural health products are generally considered to be lower-risk but they are not ‘no risk.’ Canadians benefit from risk-based regulation that promotes continued access to safe, effective and high quality natural health products.

§  The vast majority of the natural health product industry develops safe products of high quality. Bill C-51 will help us target the minority who behave irresponsibly.

§  Bill C-51 will help ensure that tainted products are found and recalled.

§  Bill C-51 will help ensure that what is on the label is actually in the bottle.

§  Bill C-51 will help ensure that health claims on packaging are supported by appropriate levels of evidence.

The Natural Health Product Regulations, introduced in 2004, will continue to operate the same way under Bill C-51. Canadians will continue to have access to natural health products that are safe, effective and of high quality.

§  Natural health products will not be regulated as pharmaceutical drugs; they will continue to be regulated under their own regulations – separate from drugs and foods.

§  Bill C-51 will not increase the costs of natural health products.

§  Bill C-51 does not regulate growing an herb garden.

§  Bill C-51 does not target practitioners who compound products for their patients.

§  Bill C-51 does not target Canadians’ personal use of natural health products. 

§  Health food stores will not require a special license to sell natural health products.

§  Canadians will not require a prescription from a doctor for natural health products.

§  Inspectors will not be able to enter a private home without permission or a warrant.

§  Bill C-51 does not enable Health Canada to seize bank accounts.