Red Deer-Lacombe MP Blaine Calkins stopped by Ponoka Health and Wellness on April 5 in his efforts to garner support to help push back new health supplement regulations.
Last year, Calkins introduced Bill C-368, a private member’s bill that would repeal parts of the Liberal government’s Bill C-47, part of which focuses on regulation of natural health products available across the country.
Under the new legislation, natural health products, including supplements, herbal remedies, and traditional and homeopathic medicines for example would be subject to more labelling and reporting requirements.
Opponents say the new regulations could reduce choice, see costs go up, and drive businesses, investment, and product development away.
Over the past few months, he has been visiting businesses to inform the public about the issue, pointing out that he has the support of 117 MPs from the Conservatives for his bill to date, but needs to bring 52 Liberal or NDP MPs on board to see it move forward.
“There are some suppliers that are already starting to stop their shipments coming into Canada because of the risk that is associated with the looming regulatory changes,” he said during his Ponoka stop.
“With the change of the definition of natural health products to therapeutic, now the entire drug portion of Health Canada’s approval process applies to natural health products.”
Calkins said the changes introduced weren’t needed.
“We trust traditional knowledge in other aspects of Canadian society, I don’t know why we wouldn’t trust thousands of years of traditional Chinese medicine and Aboriginal medicine (for example), and all kinds of knowledge that we have,” he explained.
He said the industry wasn’t notified of the impending changes that Bill C-47 would bring.
“The industry found out months afterward because it was tucked into a huge omnibus budget bill that these changes were going to be made,” he said.
“Now, Health Canada has broad, sweeping powers over this industry.”
Calkins noted Canada overall has a solid reputation with the country’s regulatory system.
“We are a net exporter of natural health products, the same way we are with our energy products,” he said.
”I say let’s go back to the status quo and leave it alone.”
Kathy Masters, owner of Ponoka Health and Wellness, is also concerned about the impact on her operations.
She’s already seen rising shipping costs affect what she once brought in terms of food items.
These days, some suppliers are increasingly concerned about the changes to regulations, and the uncertainty that the initial bill has caused, she said.
But according to a statement from the Office of the Minister of Health, “Right now, unlike with all other health products, natural health product (NHP) manufacturing sites do not have a regular cycle of inspections to ensure that companies adhere to quality standards.
“This is why we are making changes to improve the safety of products. The government has introduced new labelling regulations to support consumers in making informed choices, and Parliament passed legislation allowing Health Canada to act when safety issues arise, such as ordering a recall.
“Health Canada is now proposing industry fees that would allow the department to establish an inspection program to ensure companies are following good manufacturing practices.
“Health Canada has (also) heard concerns from some small businesses about the potential impact these changes could have, which is why we are proposing to reduce fees by nearly 50 per cent and a further 25 per cent for small businesses, in addition to phasing fees in over a seven-year period to allow time for businesses to adapt.
“With labelling, we are continuing to engage industry and stakeholders on ways to further improve the new regulations and address remaining concerns.”
Meanwhile, Calkins said he is fortunate his bill is in the current private members’ rotation, and he expects to debate on it to begin later this month.
He is encouraging those who support his efforts to reach out to Liberal and NDP MPs in particular to try and convince them to support his bill.
“If more MPs vote for it than against it, it will go to committee and follow the legislative process. But if we don’t get more MPs to support it, it’s done,” he said.
“If it has the support of the House of Commons, it should be passed by Christmas.”
Calkins knows that seeing his bill pass won’t be easy.
“They passed Bill C-47 as a matter of confidence, and now I’m asking them to vote against something they have already voted for,” he said.
“It doesn’t mean they won’t change their minds on this one, so I’m hopeful. But that is also why the public pressure matters.”