Natural Products Industry Group Opposed To Bill C-51
By Canadian Packaging Staff
General Bill C-51 Canadian Health Food Association“What we need is a separate category that ensures the more than 75 per cent of Canadians who have ever used NHPs continue to have access and choice,” says Marrett, pointing out that in 1999 former Health Minister Allan Rock had accepted all 53 recommendations made by the Standing Committee on Health in its report on NHPs.
“Bill C-51 is the perfect opportunity to respond to the very first of the 53 recommendations with the creation of a separate category for NHPs,” says Marrett.
According to the critics of Bill C-51, which now requires one more reading in both legislative houses before becoming law, the overhauled Food and Drugs Act could outlaw up to 60 per cent of NHPs currently sold in Canada, while “criminalizing” people who use and recommend them to others.
There is also much concern about the expanded powers of the federal inspectors and the severe penalties for those found violating the new regulations—including fines of up to $5 million and up to two years in prison.
For its part, however, Health Canada maintains that all the proposed regulations addressing NHPs are designed a to safeguard Canadians against false and misleading health claims.
According to Health Canada’s website: “The legislation requires vigilance to ensure that tainted products are found and recalled, that what is on the label is actually in the bottle, and that health claims are supported by evidence.
“We have seen cases where a natural health product makes a completely unfounded health claim—the ability to cure cancer or SARS, for example.”
Advertisement
