Question Period Note: Natural Health Products

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KEY MESSAGES
• Health Canada is committed to protecting the health and safety of Canadians when they use natural health products available on the Canadian market.
• The Department works to support access to safe, effective and high-quality natural health products, and takes action when unsafe products are identified on the market.
• While natural health products are generally safe, they are not without risk - especially if they are contaminated or used improperly.
IF PRESSED
Q1 : If pressed on recent changes to the regulation of natural health products
A1 :.
• In response to a 2021 audit by the Auditor General that reported gaps in the regulatory oversight of natural health products, Health Canada published new rules to make labels easier to read and to support actions such as product recalls.
• However, the Department acknowledges the challenges faced by companies due to the prescriptive nature of the regulations, which may not be proportionate to the risk posed by the wide range of natural health products on the market.
• In support of the Government’s Red Tape Review across the federal regulatory system, Health Canada is now working to streamline rules and reduce regulatory burden, without compromising the health and safety of people in Canada.
• The Department is proposing to amend regulations for natural health products to introduce more flexible labelling requirements and risk-based surveillance once products are on the market.
• Health Canada will also aim to reduce regulatory burden for certain natural health products where the Department has higher certainty, including those that follow a published Health Canada monograph.
Q2 : If pressed on why Health Canada is proposing fees for natural health products given the trade and tariff situation with the United States.
A2 :
• The Government of Canada understands the uncertainty and concern many Canadians are feeling as a result of the unjustified tariffs imposed by the US and is committed to using every tool at its disposal to protect Canadians.
• As part of the government’s Red Tap Review initiative, Health Canada will give careful consideration to the appropriate timing for cost recovery implementation for natural health products.
Q3 : If pressed on how Health Canada is supporting industry with the new labelling requirements published in 2022
A3 :
• The Department initiated a series of stakeholder engagement sessions in 2024 to better understand the concerns and identify solutions to support implementation of labels that are clear and useful to consumers.
• To allow time for the Department to develop solutions, Health Canada published a Ministerial Order that gives industry until June 2028 to bring products into compliance with the new labelling requirements.
• While the Ministerial Order is in place, Health Canada will work with industry to address stakeholder concerns and develop solutions for providing consumers the information they need when selecting and using natural health products.
Q4 : If pressed on perceived regulatory burden reducing access to products and driving Canadians to purchase unauthorized natural health products on the internet from other countries
A4 :
• The recent changes in the regulation of natural health products are not intended to remove choice or reduce access for people in Canada. Health Canada is committed
to ensuring the continued accessibility of safe, effective and high-quality products.
• All domestic or international companies that sell natural health products to the Canadian market – whether online or at retail outlets in Canada – must comply with Canadian regulations to keep people in Canada safe.
• Health Canada prioritizes applications for products destined for the Canadian market, or products being manufactured in Canada, to benefit the people and companies in Canada.
Q5 : If pressed on why additional powers introduced in 2023 such as the authority to require product recalls (under the Protecting Canadians from Unsafe Drugs Act - Vanessa’s Law) is needed
A5 :
• Health Canada needs to be able to take swift action if a serious risk to health is suspected or identified with natural health products on the market, consistent with other health products.
• For example, these authorities allow Health Canada to require the recall of a product or add warnings on labels to support safe use, if necessary, which it couldn’t do before.
• These new authorities will only need to be used if a serious risk to health is identified or if a company refuses to partake in voluntary mechanisms.

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KEY STATS
• The natural health product industry in Canada has grown rapidly from an estimated $4.3 billion in sales in 2007 to approximately $13.2 billion in 2021.
• Since 2004, Health Canada has authorized over 200,000 natural health products for sale in Canada, and an average of 12,000 product applications are received every year.