Health Canada has proposed changes to the ways in which natural health products (NHPs) are regulated. Now, the organization is suggesting that these goods should be controlled in the same ways as pharmaceutical drugs.
Currently, NHPs are required to undergo rigorous inspection by Health Canada and the Standing Committee on Health as well as consumer, government and international regulatory consultations. Additionally, Health Canada must approve all NHPs before they may reach the market, which requires companies to provide evidence—often published studies—to support any health claims they make.
The new regulations, however, will require some NHPs to be treated as if they are drugs. This will require the makers of these products to provided further clinical study on their ingredients, potentially driving up their cost. These changes could also limit consumer access to safe, effective and high-quality natural products.
The Canadian Health Food Association (CHFA) is highly opposed to these changes, and is currently running a campaign called “Our Natural Health Products Are Not Drugs” to combat them. For more information on this initiative, visit chfa.ca.
