Proposed updating of federal regulations concerning natural health products is proving a bitter pill for some consumers to swallow.
Close to 20 people gathered outside Okanagan-Coquihalla MP Stockwell Day‘s office in Penticton Friday to protest Bill C-51, which was introduced in the Commons last month. Penticton is among seven locations in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario where such rallies are planned. Similar events are scheduled for today in Vancouver, Edmonton and Toronto.
Randy Wissman of Kelowna was among those handing out leaflets against Bill C-51 at the Penticton rally after learning about the protest online. He described the federal legislation as “broad and vague” at best.
A leaflet distributed by the protesters says the bill could remove 70 per cent of natural health products from store shelves, while many others would be available only by prescription.
“Herbs and minerals have been used by people for thousands of years,” Wissman said. “When I get a cold, I go to the store and take vitamin C and echinacea, and my cold lasts for three days.”
He said most people he has talked to are unaware of Bill C-51 and its ramifications.
“Hopefully, this thing won‘t be brushed under the rug,” Wissman said. “Most people don‘t know about it, and anybody who does doesn‘t like the idea.”
Day was not in his office Friday. However, in a letter to the Penticton Herald earlier this week, the public safety minister defended the legislation.
“Bill C-51 is part of our government‘s strategy to ensure that food and products that are available on the Canadian market are safe for consumers,” he said. “Products that make health claims must be regulated. Otherwise, they can be sold as foods.”
Day said natural health products are already a separate category in Food and Drug Act regulations.
“They are not regulated as drugs, and Bill C-51 won‘t change that,” he said.
Richard Hunt, owner of Whole Foods Market in Penticton, said he sent his own letter to Day‘s office Friday.
Hunt said despite some customers‘ fears about the legislation, the industry won‘t be shut down, but will continue to operate and ensure full product safety. He emphasized vitamins would not require a prescription under the legislation.
“This industry is a long, long way from the granola and hippie days,” he said. “The vitamin companies are incredibly sophisticated companies with incredible research and development facilities.
“They have to meet good manufacturing practices or they‘re just not in business.”
He noted Bill C-51 is the government‘s response to recent tainted-food scandals and other health-related issues.
“I don‘t think anybody‘s really objecting to those parts of the thing,” he said.
However, Hunt said the industry fears the legislation could undo all the work that has gone into regulating natural health products, which are neither food nor drugs.
He noted the Canadian Health Food Association has outlined a number of concerns about the bill, which it says could have a significant negative impact on the natural health products and food industries. The CHFA calls for a separate category for natural health products.
“Bill C-51 pushes natural health products closer to the pharmaceutical model,” the association states on its website. “We want our products to stay on store shelves.”
The CHFA will continue to meet with Health Canada officials to discuss the bill and the industry‘s concerns.
Although no rally was held in Kelowna, Nature‘s Fare Natural Foods in that city has been asking customers to sign a form letter to be sent to federal Health Minister Tony Clement. So far, more than 100 letters have been signed. Top of Page
