Natural Health Products Are Not Drugs

When a Canadian consumer buys a natural health product (NHP), they can be confident that the Canadian regulations that already exist for these products are among the best in the world.

The Canadian approach to regulation is often referred to as a “pre-approval” system, which means that all NHPs must be licensed by Health Canada before they are allowed to be legally sold to Canadians. This process includes providing evidence to support any claims being made by the product on a risk-based basis.

Health Canada is now proposing a framework that would significantly alter the existing NHP Regulations and instead wants to regulate some NHPs using the same rules as drugs seemingly based on a single consumer survey and six weeks of consultation.

This proposal is trying to fix a system that is not broken and will be a step backward instead of forward. Our current regulations take into account the unique properties and low-risk nature of these products, ensuring that you have access to NHPs that are safe, effective and of high quality, while respecting freedom of choice, and the philosophical and cultural diversity of our country.

Changing the way NHPs are regulated will have an impact on the products available on store shelves. Providing the evidence required for drugs is vastly expensive, and will result in price increases for natural health product. Other products will be required to provide a disclaimer indicating that they have not been reviewed and this will result in additional products lost from shelves.

To help ensure Canadians continue to have access to these important products, we need your help. Visit chfa.ca right now to send a message to your Member of Parliament, letting them know these changes are not acceptable. It will only take a minute and will make a big difference in ensuring you continue to have access to your favourite safe and effective natural health products.