• Thu. Oct 3rd, 2024

Regulatory update on dietary supplements: Key insights from Canada

Regulatory update on dietary supplements: Key insights from Canada

Over the past nine years, Canada has seen a marked increase in governmental authority and intervention in the natural products industry, often characterized by what many perceive as anti-industry attitudes and a lack of transparency in public engagement processes.

One of the most significant developments has been the approach of Health Canada, the federal department responsible for public health, towards regulating Natural Health Products (NHPs—the Canadian term for dietary supplements).

Health Canada’s current trajectory aims to align the regulation of NHPs with that of pharmaceuticals, a shift that has sparked considerable debate and concern within the industry.

Health Canada’s regulatory actions

Health Canada has implemented and is compounding several initiatives that mirror the stringent regulations typically reserved for prescription drugs. For instance, new label regulations, originally intended to reduce medication errors, are now being applied to NHPs.

These regulations require changes in labeling practices that significantly affect the packaging and presentation of dietary supplements. Despite industry feedback, these measures have been enforced with minimal public consultation, raising concerns about the practicality and necessity of such stringent rules for NHPs.

Additionally, Health Canada has been granted new powers that allow it to impose regulations on health product manufacturers without needing to justify these actions based on actual health risks. This expansion of authority, introduced under the guise of “uncertainty” management, has been criticized for its potential to disrupt the industry without sufficient evidence of risk.

link

By admin

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *