The natural health industry consumer and the smaller to medium players (manufactureres, wholesaler - importers, and retailers) have been totally betrayed by the Canadian Health Food Association and , unfortunately the Naturopathic Physicians - at least their organization - has been complicit with their support of the so called "third category."
Jason Watkin's statement (below) could not be any more clear. - CW
If current NHP's are listed as dietary food supplements (foods) Codex will
not have intra-national jurisdiction unless Canada allows it to. Codex
applies to exported goods. If we classify our products as NHP's in a
drug-style directorate, we are not exempt from Codex at the point of import
into another country so the point is moot. Health Canada is attempting to
mislead with this "red-herring". Our organization has NGO status at Codex
and we have sent delegates to Bonn.
Our largest trading partner classifies their NHP's as a subset of foods
(dietary food supplements). We should be harmonizing with their DSHEA.
Again, Health Canada is misleading the Canadian Health Industry. Big
American companies have recently launched trade complaints against Canada as
many shipments into Canada are blocked due to the new NHPD while Canadian
exports have remained free to export into the USA. This is NOT in the best
interest of Canadian companies that export heavily to the USA. The USA WILL
retaliate.
Please check your facts as your organization has impact. The key reason the
CHFA and the Naturopathic Doctors support this new drug-style classification
is entirely self-serving as they believe that they will gain more control
for big manufacturers (who can afford fees required to submit applications
for pre-approval) and for naturopaths to prescribe restricted herbs. Small
and medium sized innovative manufacturers will suffer dearly. I lived in
Germany and the same thing was enacted betraying consumers. The industry is
now over 90% owned by the pharmaceutical industry!
Jason Watkin
