A private member’s bill aimed at preventing the Liberal government from imposing stricter regulations on natural health products has successfully passed its second reading in Parliament.
The Conservative bill seeks to amend the federal Food and Drugs Act to clarify that natural health products should not be categorized in the same manner as therapeutic products. This is a response to the provisions outlined in the Liberal government’s Bill C-47, which would grant Health Canada the authority to regulate natural health products similarly to synthetic medications.
Conservative MP Blaine Calkins, the proponent of
Bill C-368, emphasized in a statement, “The current regulations governing health supplements already ensure the safety of Canadians. The additional red tape proposed by the government is more about centralizing power in Ottawa than safeguarding the interests of Canadians.”
Under this proposed legislation, natural health products will no longer be exempt from
Vanessa’s Law, which empowers Health Canada to mandate the reporting of serious adverse drug reactions, order recalls of drugs, and require companies to revise labels and conduct additional testing.
The new regulations in Bill C-47 also introduce fees for importing, manufacturing, and selling natural health products. Health Canada will have the authority to demand modifications to drug labels or packaging, reveal proprietary business information in cases of serious health risks, and impose fines of up to $5 million for unsafe products.
“If Canadians do not take action, this could mark the end of alternative healthcare,” cautioned the association.
According to a report by the Auditor General in 2021, about 70 percent of Canadians regularly use natural health products as part of their health regimen or to address minor health concerns. However, the report highlighted that Health Canada’s oversight of these products was inadequate in ensuring their safety and efficacy. Oversight of manufacturing sites and post-market product monitoring were insufficient, leaving consumers vulnerable to potential health risks.
Health Canada has not responded to requests for comment from The Epoch Times.
Private Member’s Bill
The proposed legislation,
Bill C-368, seeks to differentiate natural health products from therapeutic products, thus exempting them from the stringent monitoring processes applied to other drugs in Canada.
Introduced by Mr. Calkins in December 2023,
criticized the new regulations surrounding natural health products as a direct threat to Canadian consumers and small businesses.
Referring to a survey conducted in May 2023 by the
Canadian Health Food Association, Mr. Calkins highlighted that over 75 percent of brands expressed concerns about having to remove products from the market due to the impending legislation, with one in five contemplating exiting the Canadian market.
Mr. Calkins emphasized in a press release from December 2023, “The current regulations already ensure the safety of these natural health products. The changes proposed by the Liberals are not just bureaucratic hurdles but constraints that hinder our entrepreneurs, stifle innovation, and limit consumer choice.”
Following the successful second reading, Bill C-368 will undergo further evaluation by the Standing Committee on Health.
