Proposed bill threatens natural health products

Bill C-51, a proposed legislation to amend the federal Food and Drugs Act that would lead to more regulatory scrutiny of natural health products sold in Canada, is drawing opponents across the country. Critics say the bill will outlaw up to 60 percent of natural health products currently sold, making many natural health products that have been sold here for decades unavailable for purchase and penalizing parents who give herbs or supplements to their children.

They also argue that the government could designate any natural health product a prescription drug, making it available by prescription only. They say these types of provisions will force small companies out of the market.

Websites and online groups have sprung up imploring their members to lobby MPs to halt the progress of the bill. Acts in Canada must pass three readings in both legislative houses before becoming law. This is supposed to give representatives and the general public time to become aware of any proposed changes, have them debated and give their consent. Bill C-51 was first read on April 8, followed by a second reading on April 28, barely allowing time for consumers, trade groups,and elected representatives to examine, debate or compose official positions.

Among the changes proposed by the bill are radical alterations to key terminology, including replacing the word “drug” with “therapeutic product” throughout the act, thereby giving the Canadian government broad-reaching powers to regulate the sale of all herbs, vitamins, supplements and other items. With this single language change, anything that is “therapeutic” automatically falls under the Food and Drug Act. This would include bottled water, blueberries, dandelion greens and essentially all plant-derived substances.

In a speech last month at the Emerging Issues in Customs conference in Mississauga, federal health minister Tony Clement defended the bill, saying that it would allow the federal government to be able to continuously monitor the safety of products even after they have been approved. “We propose maintaining a rigorous assessment of health products prior to making them available,” he said. “On top of that, Bill C-51 would provide the authority we now lack to make a recall as soon as we know there’s a problem. We’re seeking to gain the new authority to reassure the public that the government can, and will, act to protect health and safety as early as possible,” he said.

Not impressed? Here’s what you can do:

• educate yourself
• visit www.stopc51.com to find out about rallies being held in your area
• read Bill C-41 at www.parl.gc.ca
• contact your MLA
• tell friends

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