Protecting Consumers…

August 11, 2008

Earlier this year Minister of Health Tony Clement introduced Bill C-51. This enactment amends the Food and Drugs Act to modernize the regulatory system for foods and therapeutic products, to strengthen the oversight of the benefits and risks of therapeutic products throughout their life cycle, to support effective compliance and enforcement actions and to enable a greater transparency and openness of the regulatory system.

After the bill was introduced, extensive stakeholder consultations were held. Many of my Calgary constituents also raised concerns over specific details of the proposed legislation. Our government listened to the issues that were raised.

As a result of the consultations and input from Members of Parliament, we are putting forward proposed amendments to Bill C-51 for discussion and consideration in Committee in the weeks ahead. The proposed amendments will:

• Define Natural Health Products (NHPs) within the Act as a “third” category apart from Food and Drugs and make it clear that regulations relating to drugs will not apply to NHPs;
• Consider traditional knowledge and history of use when determining the safety of NHPs and;
• Allow for the creation of an Advisory Committee including industry, consumers, and health professionals to provide guidance to government.
  

For more information please visit http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/pr-rp/facts-c51-fiches_e.html