OT: May 13, 2008 - HANS Update on Bill C-51.

[Guest guest]

Repost with permission.

Repost to all Canadians.

 

 

 

 

Bill C-51 passed first reading on April 8, 2008 and - as of May 13, 2008,

and contrary to some confusion - has not yet passed second reading. The Bill is

still being debated within the House of Commons, as stated in its status

report: _http://www.parl.gc.ca/LEGISINFO/index.asp?Language=E..._'>http://www.parl.gc.ca/LEGISINFO/index.asp?Language=E..._

(http://www.parl.gc.ca/LEGISINFO/index.asp?Language=E...)

 

_http://www.parl.gc.ca/LEGISINFO/index.asp?Language=E & Chamber=N & StartList=A & En

dList=Z & Session=15 & Type=0 & Scope=I & query=5420 & List=stat_

(http://www.parl.gc.ca/LEGISINFO/index.asp?Language=E & Chamber=N & StartList=A & EndL\

ist=Z & Session=15 & Typ

e=0 & Scope=I & query=5420 & List=stat)

 

 

Letters to politicians and the media have succeeded in raising public and

political awareness about Bill C-51. HANS continues to urge members and

consumers of natural health products to raise their concerns about the Bill

(see How

to Get Involved, below).

 

Responses from MPs have varied from offering assurances about the benefits

of the Bill to, conversely, echoing constituent concerns. Accordingly, we are

including (below) valuable links for more in-depth information and discussion

points on Bill C-51 that should be raised with politicians and all concerned

parties.

 

In addition, HANS encourages everyone to attend our June 2, 2008 public

event, " Endangered Natural Health Products? " with keynote speaker Shawn

Buckley,

LLB.

 

Buckley is a lawyer whose expertise in natural health product regulations

has been gleaned from a decade of representing manufacturers in court against

Health Canada. This is a unique opportunity to hear the legal perspective of

an in-the-trenches expert and to find out firsthand, the implications of Bill

C-51 and natural health product regulations in general.

When: Monday June 2, 2008 7-9 pm

Where: St Andrew's - Wesley Church, 1022 Nelson Street, Vancouver, BC

FREE to HANS pre-registered Members; $5 at the door for non-members.

Register at _www.hans.org_ (http://www.hans.org) or call 604-435-0512

 

In the meantime, here are a few specific points of discussion about Bill

C-51:

 

The Bill would redefine natural health products, cosmetics, medical devices

and cells, tissues and organs as " therapeutic products " .

 

HANS is concerned that this definition ignores the fundamental differences

between NHPs and drugs, including the historical efficacy and relatively low

safety risks of NHPs.

 

The Bill would bestow greater powers on Health Canada and federal inspectors

to enforce regulations and demand industry compliance.

 

HANS is concerned that, given our ongoing tumultuous NHP regulations (see

backgrounder below) and the fact that a significant percent of products

technically have and will become illegal as a result of our existing

regulations,

the Bill will encourage unnecessary enforcement and reduce product

availability.

 

Bill C-51 would allow Health Canada to implement regulations and standards

set by (non-Canadian) bodies, agencies, organizations, industrial or trade

organizations and governments.

 

HANS is concerned that this opens the door to restrictive standards and

guidelines such as CODEX Alimentarius Commission, which may limit nutritional

supplement dosages and detrimentally affect purchasing patterns of consumers.

HANS is equally concerned that, under the guise of strategic harmonization,

international agendas related to functional foods and natural health products

could be imposed on Canadians without necessary public scrutiny and input.

 

Regulations Background Information

 

In the late 1990s, the 53 recommendations put forward by then federal

Minister of Health Allan Rock and the Standing Committee on Health were

intended to

ensure natural health products (NHPs) were regulated in a way that

recognized their uniqueness from pharmaceutical drugs; a third category for

NHPs was

proposed - and promised - at that time.

 

Instead, NHPs have been regulated as a subsection within the drug category.

Although they have been given a Natural Health Products Directorate (NHPD),

they still fall within a pharmaceutical-type framework that has created

considerable strain on manufacturers and distributors, and has resulted in

serious

delays and the rejection of more than 60 percent of produce licenses for NHPs

(as noted on the NHPD website).

 

It's estimated that as high as 75 percent of licenses for NHPs will be

rejected, after which time it's unclear how many will be submitted for

reapplication. Products sold without a license are, in effect, illegal.

Products are

supposed to be voluntarily removed, or subject to Health Canada enforcement. It

is into this existing regulatory reality that Bill C-51 has been injected.

 

HANS is of the opinion that Bill C-51's implications towards the natural

health products industry and Canadians who use natural health products (NHPs)

should be deeply considered if the Bill is allowed to progress in the

legislative process.

 

How to Get Involved

 

1) Contact your Member of Parliament ASAP.

Inform him/her that:

- you are opposed to Bill C-51 due to its implications for the natural

health products industry;

- you want him/her to vote against Bill C-51;

- you want your access to natural health products protected.

 

To find out who your MP is, search by postal code at:

_http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Compilations/HouseOf..._

(http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Compilations/HouseOf...)

 

_http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Compilations/HouseOfCommons/MemberByPostalCod

e.aspx?Menu=HOC_

(http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Compilations/HouseOfCommons/MemberByPostalCode.\

aspx?Menu=HOC)

 

2) Send a copy of your e-mail to _nhp_ (nhp) . (We

are encouraging e-mails due to time constraints BUT a handwritten, hand-signed

letter as per #9 is equally if not more important.)

 

3) Support HANS by joining as a member for $35 a year. Memberships and

donations are the primary source of funding that enables us to do this work.

Sign

up online at _www.hans.org_ (http://www.hans.org) . Or, make a tax-deductible

donation to HANS; every bit of support helps.

 

4) Forward this e-mail to everybody you know and request that they do the

same.

 

5) Sign up for the HANS e-News, a free service via _www.hans.org_

(http://www.hans.org) , in which we will be including Bill C-51 updates.

 

6) Phone your MP and the Prime Minister's Office to voice your concerns.

Dial toll-free 1-866-599-4999 and ask to be transferred to any MPs office.

The hours of this service are:

Monday - Thursday, 8:30 - 6:00 pm Eastern standard time

Friday only, 8:30 - 5:00 pm Eastern Standard time

 

Stephen Harper's phone numbers are (613) 992-4211 and (403) 253-7990.

Tony Clement's phone numbers are (613) 944-7740 and (705) 746-9053.

 

7) Introduce this issue to your local media. (see some media coverage links

below)

 

8) On June 2, 2008, attend the " Endangered Natural Health Products " public

event in Vancouver, co-hosted by HANS and Common Ground Magazine

Speaker: Shawn Buckley, LLB and president of the Natural Health Products

Protection Association

When: Monday June 2, 2008 7-9 pm

Where: St Andrew's - Wesley Church, 1022 Nelson Street, Vancouver

FREE to HANS pre-registered Members, $5 at the door for non-registered

Members and HANS Non-members. Register at _www.hans.org_ (http://www.hans.org)

or

call 604-435-0512

 

9) Also write a handwritten letter to:

- your local MP;

- Prime Minister Stephen Harper;

- Tony Clement, Minister of Health.

 

You can send your letters without postage to:

(Name of person)

House of Commons

Ottawa, ON

K1A 0A6

 

10) Get more information

Read Bill C-51:

_http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication..._

(http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication...)

 

_http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Language=E & Parl=39 &

Ses=2 & Mode=1 & Pub=Bill & Doc=C-51_1_

(http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Language=E & Parl=39 & Se\

s=2 & Mode=1 & Pub=Bill & Doc=C-51_1)

 

Read a Draft Discussion Paper on Bill C-51 by Shawn Buckley, lawyer and

president of the Natural Health Products Protection Association:

_http://www.nhppa.org_ (http://www.nhppa.org) /

 

Read the Canadian Health Food Association's Backgrounder and Facts on Bill

C-51:

_http://www.chfa.ca/media/pdf_files/what%20is%20bill%..._

(http://www.chfa.ca/media/pdf_files/what%20is%20bill...)

 

_http://www.chfa.ca/media/pdf_files/what%20is%20bill%20c.pdf_

(http://www.chfa.ca/media/pdf_files/what%20is%20bill%20c.pdf)

 

 

AND

 

 

 

 

 

_http://www.chfa.ca/media/pdf_files/backgrounder%20on..._

(http://www.chfa.ca/media/pdf_files/backgrounder%20on...)

 

_http://www.chfa.ca/media/pdf_files/backgrounder%20on%20bill%20c-51%20(amendme

nts%20to%20the%20food%20and%20drugs%20act).pdf_

(http://www.chfa.ca/media/pdf_files/backgrounder%20on%20bill%20c-51%20(amendment\

s%20to%20the%20food%20and%20

drugs%20act).pdf)

 

 

Read the Canadian Health Food Association's Media Release Calling for an

amendment to Bill C-51.

 

_http://www.chfa.ca/media/pdf_files/natural%20health%..._

(http://www.chfa.ca/media/pdf_files/natural%20health...)

 

Read Bill C-51 April 30, 2008 House of Commons Debate transcript (Use Next

Feature on site to follow the debate as the days pass):

_http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication..._

(http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication...)

 

Or, Search Debate Transcript for Bill C-51 Here:

_http://www2.parl.gc.ca/housechamberbusiness/ChamberP..._

(http://www2.parl.gc.ca/housechamberbusiness/ChamberP...)

 

50 international scientists, physicians and associated health practitioners

are calling upon Canada's Health Minister to reconsider its plan to amend the

Food and Drugs Act (Bill C-51).

_http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2008/0..._

(http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2008/0...)

 

Watch this video:

_http://www.jameslunneymp.ca/video.htm_

(http://www.jameslunneymp.ca/video.htm)

 

Recent Media Stories

 

Global TV; Vancouver Bill C-51 Rally, May 10, 1008

Including interview with HANS Executive Director Lorna Hancock

_http://canwest.a.mms.mavenapps.net/mms/rt/1/site/can..._

(http://canwest.a.mms.mavenapps.net/mms/rt/1/site/can...)

 

Bill C-51 Threatens Choices in Healthcare, Say Critics

_http://www.canada.com/abbotsfordtimes/news/story.htm..._

(http://www.canada.com/abbotsfordtimes/news/story.htm...)

 

Natural Health Products Unfairly Hit, Critics Say

_http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/arts/story.h..._

(http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/arts/story.h...)

 

Criticisms of Natural Health Products Bill C-51 Mounts

_http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/05/09/bill-c51.h..._

(http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/05/09/bill-c51.h...)

 

Changes to Food, Drug Laws Greeted with Suspicion

_http://www.pentictonherald.ca/top_story.php?id=10859..._

(http://www.pentictonherald.ca/top_story.php?id=10859...)

 

Natural Health Care Industry Rebuked over Claims about New Bill

_http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/reallife/st..._

(http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/reallife/st...)

 

Herbal Remedy Industry Wary of Bill

_http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?i..._

(http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?i...)

 

 

Founded in 1984, Health Action Network Society is a membership-based,

non-profit charitable organization dedicated to gathering and disseminating

health

promotion information.