freedom of Canadian consumers to choose Natural health products at Risk

For more info:
http://www.acubalance.ca/content/bill-c51-taking-away-your-right-natural...

Urgent: Bill C-51 to Go to Second Reading this Week. Please Contact Your MP Now.

HANS is concerned that Bill C-51 to amend the Food and Drugs Act, a
Bill with worrisome implications for the natural health products
industry and consumers, is being pushed into law too fast, and we
encourage you to phone, fax, or e-mail your Member of Parliament ASAP.

ASAP as in this weekend ... before April 28, 2008.

It was only on April 8th that Bill C-51 passed its first reading in the
House of Commons, and only in the April 15th HANS e-News that we raised
the issue of Bill C-51. But it has been announced that a second reading
will occur on April 28th.

Less than three weeks between first and second readings?

HANS believes that this unusually short time frame does not provide
ample time to respond to a Bill that will affect - potentially
detrimentally affect - the two-thirds of Canadians who choose to use
natural health products to improve and sustain their health. Industry
stakeholders, professional associations and concerned groups have not
had ample opportunity to examine and debate Bill C-51, let alone
compose official positions on this latest regulatory issue. The public,
as well, has been neglected in this rush.

If Bill C-51 is ultimately passed, HANS fears that the freedom of
Canadian consumers to choose from amongst a variety of safe, effective
natural health products will be diminished.

HANS also objects to Bill C-51 because it creates additional confusion
in an industry already struggling to implement/react to existing
natural health product regulations. Not only does the Bill create
additional confusion, but it also supports the idea of our regulatory
system treating natural health products the same as pharmaceutical
drugs.

If Bill C-51 is passed, HANS fears that it will be even more difficult
to establish an appropriately regulated natural health products
industry using a system that recognizes the distinctiveness of NHPs,
their relative safety and historical efficacy.

For all these reasons, HANS is encouraging all of our members and
friends to contact their elected politicians ASAP to express their
opinions about Bill C-51.

This is your opportunity to explain how being denied the natural
products you use would affect your health personally. In your
e-mail/letter, you may wish to ask additional questions, including: why
are natural health products currently regulated in a drug-style regime
even though Health Canada once promised that this would not be the
case?

A bit of history ... HANS hosted four public forums about natural
health product regulation from 1997 to 1999. Attendance ranged from 800
to 1,700. The public - consumers of these natural products - were
concerned that changing regulations would mean a reduction in their
ability to purchase, at reasonable prices, their supplements. We have
been told that this was the largest expression of public concern in
recorded history.

The result was a special report with 53 recommendations, which were, in
theory, to protect the public's choices, as well as to guarantee
safety. The government at the time was a liberal government and
Minister of Health was Allan Rock.

Why hasn't Health Canada adopted any of the 53 recommendations from the committee that Allan Rock said they would endorse?

Why have existing natural health product regulations resulted in failed
product applications in at least 60 percent of cases and potentially
many more - another situation that Health Canada said wouldn't happen?
A situation that, in effect, makes these products illegal and more
likely to be removed from the market?

How to Get Involved

1) Contact your Member of Parliament ASAP.

Inform him/her that:
- you are opposed to Bill C-51;
- you want him/her to vote against Bill C-51;
- you want your access to natural health products protected.

To find out who your MP is, search by postal code at:
http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Compilations/HouseOf...

If you want to email all MPs and need a complete list, email HANS and we'll send it as an attachment.

2) Send a copy of your e-mail to hans [at] hans [dot] org.

3) Forward this e-mail to everybody you know and request that they do the same.

4) Phone your MP and the Prime Minister's Office to voice your concerns.
Stephen Harper's phone numbers are (613) 992-4211 and (403) 253-7990.
Tony Clement's phone numbers are (613) 944-7740 and (705) 746-9053.

5) Introduce this issue to your local media.

6) On June 2, 2008, attend the "Endangered Natural Health Products" public event, co-hosted by HANS and Common Ground Magazine
Speaker: Shawn Buckley, LLB and president of the Natural Health Products Protection Association
When: Monday June 2, 2008 7-9 pm
Where: St Andrew's - Wesley Church, 1022 Nelson Street, Vancouver
Tickets: available at www.hans.org or by calling 604-435-0512, or at the door

7) Also write a handwritten letter to:
- your local MP;
- Prime Minister Stephen Harper;
- Tony Clement, Minister of Health.

You can send your letters without postage to:
(Name of person)
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A6

For more information:

Read a copy of Bill C-51: http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication...&

Read a Draft Discussion Paper on Bill C-51 by Shawn Buckley, president of the Natural Health Products Protection Association: http://www.nhppa.org/