Herbal remedy industry wary of bill Herbal remedy industry wary of bill

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Herbal remedy industry wary of bill

Sonja Puzic ,A Canwest News Service Published:A Sunday, May 11, 2008

WINDSOR, Ont. - Some producers and vendors of natural health products are concerned their livelihoods may be at risk if recently introduced amendments to the federal Food and Drugs Act become law.

Bill C-51, tabled by the Conservative government in early April, focuses on the safety and monitoring of drugs, food and health products, from clinical testing to the way they are marketed to Canadians. If passed, it would give the federal government more power to order recalls of unsafe products and impose harsher fines for safety violations.

Bill C-51 has been touted as a much-needed overhaul of Canada's weak consumer-protection legislation.

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But critics say it would also over-regulate the sale and use of natural health products, which include vitamins, minerals, homeopathic medicines and herbal remedies. By replacing the word "drug" with "therapeutic product" throughout the act, Health Canada would have broader power over the natural health product industry.

Some say the proposed legislation will limit consumers' choices, crack down on private growers of herbs and medicinal plants and eventually outlaw products that have been used by many for decades.

Health Canada says Bill C-51 is not going after the natural health product industry, but Windsor herbalist Anthony Pantalleresco says the legislation would have a drastic impact on millions of Canadians.

"This affects anybody who uses herbs or spices or vitamins in any way shape or form," he said. "Your right to choice is gone. Your right to make your own decisions, based on your own research and whatever you learned, is gone out the door."

According to an e-mail from a Health Canada spokesman, "Bill C-51 is not focused on natural health products and will not affect the manner in which these products are regulated in Canada.

"The standards of evidence for safety and efficacy that are in place for natural health products will not be affected by the new legislation," Stephane Shank wrote. "The risks and benefits associated with natural health products will continue to encompass factors that are unique to natural health products; including history of use, traditional uses and cultural practices."

Shank said the proposed legislation will not limit access to natural health products or require prescriptions for their use. He said such products will continue to be regulated under the same framework introduced in 2004, which includes provisions on licensing, labelling, clinical trials and reporting of adverse reactions.

Penelope Marrett, president of the Toronto-based Canadian Health Food Association, said there are misconceptions about Bill C-51. "People need to remember that we're an already regulated industry," she said. "Because these regulations are much newer than others, their variations (under Bill C-51) may not be as great."

Marrett said the bill does not suggest the removal of natural health products from store shelves.

"Herbalists and naturopaths will still be able to provide the products and the compounds that they do under the current situation," she said.

Windsor Star

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