Consistent Approach Needed on Food and Drug Act Amendments

OTTAWA, Dec. 6, 2013 /CNW/ - CHP Canada applauds the Federal Government's latest initiative to modernize Canada's Food and Drugs Act, but urges a consistent, risk-based approach to patient safety.  While the measures proposed in the Bill will apply to all prescription drugs targeted in a recent Senate committee reportⁱ which proposed many of the measures in the Bill, they will also apply to about half of the consumer health products that Canadians use in self-care.  Over-the-counter medicines will be captured by the new provisions, while natural health products will not.

"Ensuring patient safety is the fundamental goal of the Food and Drugs Act and is vital for cost-effective self-care with consumer health products such as over-the-counter medicines (OTCs) and natural health products (NHPs)," said CHP Canada's Gerry Harrington.  "CHP Canada supports modernization of the Act," he added, "but those provisions that are intended for prescription drugs should only apply to prescription drugs, and those provisions intended for lower risk consumer health products, should apply to all lower risk consumer health products, including both OTCs and NHPsⁱⁱ."

CHP Canada and its members look forward to the debate around the new legislation and will work hard with Parliamentarians and stakeholders to ensure that the resulting amendments to the Food and Drugs Act fulfill the goal of enhancing patient safety in a consistent, risk-based way.

About CHP Canada
Consumer Health Products Canada is a 117 year-old trade association representing the consumer health products industry, including the manufacturers of natural health products and over-the-counter remedies.

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ⁱ http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/SEN/Committee/411/SOCI/DPK/01mar13/execsum-e.htm
ⁱⁱ http://bit.ly/1ceYY6b

Image with caption: "Consumer Health Products Canada/CHP Canada (CNW Group/Consumer Health Products Canada/CHP Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20131206_C8570_PHOTO_EN_34647.jpg

SOURCE: Consumer Health Products Canada/CHP Canada

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