Kava Sales in Canada, Despite Health Canada Ban

<<< Back to main page

New article in CMAJ

Abstract:

"IN JANUARY 2002, HEALTH CANADA ISSUED AN ADVISORY, followed by a ban in August 2002, on the sale of herbal kava. One month after the advisory, 22 (67%) of 33 health food stores approached were selling kava. Two months after the ban, 17 (57%) of 30 stores continued to sell kava. These findings demonstrate that health food stores may need to be better informed about the sale of restricted natural health products."

Worrisome, since it means indicates that despite a ban, 35% of the stores continued to sell it. Many were even aware of the ban, and yet proceeded anyway--some selling "behind the counter". [Which is worse? Not being informed enough to observe the ban, or knowing about it and ignoring it?]

Doesn't bode well for the "regulation" of "natural" health products in Canada, since regulatory action is ignored on a broad scale in this case.

Best,

Greg Smith [email protected]

Back to top of document