Doug Collins

The Canadian Federal Government’s Budget Bill C-47, enacted on June 22, 2023, has embedded within it sections 500-504, which now give Health Canada extraordinary authority over the natural health products sector.

Vanessa’s Law, originally intended to shield Canadians from hazardous pharmaceutical drugs, has been extended to encompass natural health products, resulting in substantial regulatory pressures for these safe, natural alternatives.

Health Canada’s impending regulations and fees will place a considerable financial strain on natural health businesses. This could lead to significant price hikes for consumers or even force many small and medium-sized companies to exit the Canadian market.

The new regulations by Health Canada could limit the capacity of natural health product manufacturers, practitioners, and distributors to disseminate crucial information about their products, thereby hindering consumers’ awareness of their health benefits.

The Natural Health Product Protection Association (NHPPA) is at the forefront of a nationwide campaign to halt these changes and protect our access to natural products and healthcare practitioners.

The “Save Our Supplements (SOS)” campaign, backed by the Canadian Health Food Agency (CHFA), is not addressing the fundamental issues impacting natural health products.

The regulatory changes affecting natural health products are part of a global standardization effort led by the World Health Organization (WHO), as demonstrated by New Zealand’s recent ‘Therapeutic Products Bill’.

The growing restrictions on safe natural health products by Health Canada bureaucrats are concerning. It’s time for us to act and safeguard our right to choose natural health products.

Image: kerdkanno @ Pixabay