Last Updated Tue, 30 Dec 2003 21:37:58
EDMONTON - Several health-food store products may no longer be available
after Health Canada begins regulating herbs, dietary supplements, natural
and traditional medicines on Jan. 1.
Since natural remedies such as ginko are neither drugs nor foods, the
products fell into a regulatory void. Federal health officials can only act
if a product claims to treat a disease or is shown to be unsafe.
Nutritionist John Biggs in Edmonton sees rough days ahead for natural health
products, which will now be controlled by Health Canada. In Canada, the
industry's sales add up to $500 million annually.
"Well, the emotion here is certainly one of suspicion," said Biggs. "And
also one of confusion."
FROM NOV. 24, 2003:Many stores ignoring kava kava ban: study
Last year, Health Canada found it can be difficult to enforce the
regulations. Officials ordered retailers to stop selling the herbal sedative
kava kava. Many retailers continued to sell the relaxant, defying the order
and saying other herbal remedies have potential side effects.
The new regulations set out minimum standards for quality, purity and safety
of all natural products. The aim of the regulations is to help consumers
make informed choices, according to Dr. Phil Waddington of the Natural
Health Products Directorate.
"I see that as a very good thing because at least the companies have to
demonstrate that (for) the product they're making, there is evidence that it
works for the indication that they want to put on the label," said
pharmacology Prof. Heather Boone of the University of Toronto.
The demand for evidence may force some imported products off the market if
they can't meet basic tests for safety and effectiveness.
FROM JAN. 11, 2001:Rules for herbal remedies could put us out of business:
growers
Critics say smaller companies will be forced to go under because they can't
afford new labels and testing. Health Canada says it opens the market, even
to products previously withdrawn, such as kava kava.
"If we're able to come up with a way the product can be safely marketed then
we would definitely review that," said Waddington.
Although the new regulations will be phased in over six years, Biggs says
he's already feeling the effects. An American distributor told him it is
suspending sales of 60 products, saying it doesn't want to bother with the
new costs in Canada.
Written by CBC News Online staff
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