Vincent Pennington Blog: NHPs Are Not Drugs

Thursday, September 22, 2016

NHPs Are Not Drugs

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Health Canada has recently launched the Consulting Canadians on the Regulation of Self-Care Products in Canada document. Previously referred to as the Consumer Health Product Framework, this document has changed dramatically since its original inception, and proposes that, in the future, many natural health products (NHPs) be regulated using the same rules as drugs.

We want to make one thing clear: natural health products are NOT drugs.

Changing the entire regulatory system based on a single public opinion poll and six weeks of consultation is irresponsible.

This hasty consultation is in stark contrast to the previous consultation on the regulation of NHPs, carried out by the Standing Committee on Health (SCOH).

The SCOH met with hundreds of witnesses, including consumer groups, Health Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, international regulators, and received hundreds of submissions over a half year review period. It set out a robust and thoughtful framework for the regulation of NHPs that resulted in the passage of the NHP Regulations and the establishment of the NHPD (now NNHPD).

Canada is already a global leader in the regulations of NHPs, let’s move forward instead of back.

Our current pre-market approval system respects traditional values from many different cultures and allows Canadians freedom of choice and access to these important products. Changing the current NHP Regulations is trying to fix a system that is not broken.

Natural health products shouldn’t be regulated like drugs. Natural health products are different in nature from drugs and must be treated differently.

Please click the button below to send a letter to your local Member of Parliament, urging them to make your views known to the Minister of Health.