The Canadian government considers accentuating the surveillance of the food and therapeutic products, of which the products of natural health (PSN). But the project of law that it presented raises some fears among some observers who judge it too coercive.
Presented April 8, 2008, the project of C-511 law foresees the establishment of a progressive probate of the therapeutic products, as it is the case for the pharmaceutical products: one would value non-stop therefore the effects. positive and negative. of the therapeutic products, so much before after their probate.
For the manufacturers, it means that they should produce the studies and reports to regular intervals by the authorities.
The intention of the Canadian minister of Health, Tony Clement, is of "to pass a regulation system reactive to proactive an approach." His / her / its project of law besides appears in the Plan of Action to ensure the security of the food products and consumption, announced in December 2007 by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
The main products aimed by the project of C-51 law
Food
The Medicines
The products of Natural Health
The Cosmetic Products
Of the increased powers and a non-stop surveillance
New powers will ensue of this law, if she / it is adopted. For example, the minister of Health will be able to order the recall of a product if he judges that this one presents a serious or imminent risk of prejudice to health.
The inspectors of the Canadian agency of inspection of food (CFIA) will also benefit widened powers. They will be able to "to penetrate in a private property and there to circulate without incurring pursuit", in the same way that to "examine the files contained in the computers and to use the material of reproduction" where they do some inspections1.
The project of law also plans sterner sanctions for the offending. The fines foreseen vary $ 250 000 to $ 1 million, while the pains of confinement go from six months to three years, according to the infringement committed.
"A too coercive approach"
The Canadian association of health food (ACAS). who unites producers of food and products of health. is not in total disagreement with the project of C-51 law. She / it judges however that he / it includes important hiatuses, of which the absence of a procedure of call of the decision of the minister or an inspector. The organism also wishes a limitation of the new devolved powers to the inspectors of the ACIA3.
But for the ACAS, it is the very definition of the natural products that it would be necessary to review, judging that these are neither food nor medicines. The organism wishes that the government considers them as products to share, being a matter for a specific regulation.
It is also the opinion of pharmacist Jean-Yves Dionne, specialist of the natural health products. "The approach recommended in the project of C-51 law is too coercive and continuous to submit the products of natural health to the same rules that apply to the pharmaceutical industry", he / it deplores.
According to him, this approach risks to slow down the innovation in the domain of the products of natural health and the local food products, because of the costly that the production cost of studies and reports requires.
Sixty percent of the PSN, illegal?
Otherwise, some groups of interest put forward that the adoption of the project of C-51 law would make illegal currently close to 60% of the products on the market. According to them, the requirements foreseen to the project of law will oblige the small manufacturers and distributors to close shop. Wishing to block the adoption of the law project, they make circulate a petition.
convert this post to pdf.