Supplement fans fear bill

Freedom to choose natural health supplements could be threatened by proposed amendments to the federal Food and Drug Act, according to health-care advocates.

Bill C-51 uses the phrase “therapeutic product” to replace “drug” in the act and could lead to over-regulation, said Donald Cranston, president of Nutter’s Bulk and Natural Food stores.

“Would (the government) group vitamins, supplements, herbal products as therapeutic and therefore further regulate the marketing and retail of products like that?” Cranston asked.

“When you create legislation, you’re not sure what the definition of the terminology means to a bureaucrat. Would they consider garlic as a therapeutic product, thereby requiring specialists to sell it?”

Major manufacturers of vitamins and supplements already comply with Canadian Food Inspection Agency requirements, he said.

“We’re advocates of safety too. (Products) go through arduous clinical reviews, through very, very rigid testing before they get a Drug Identification Number.”

But stricter legislation is a good idea for products that aren’t properly tested, he added.

“We still want freedom of choice. That’s ultimately what we’re concerned about. In the day of higher healthcare costs, cannot an individual make choices on their own on complementary or alternative programs to help with individual health care?”

Shawn O’Reilly, executive director of the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors, said her association does support the intent of the bill to modernize the regulatory system, strengthen enforcement and compliance and further examine benefits and risks.

But several areas within Bill C-51 need clarification, she said.

For example, if a natural substance, defined as a therapeutic product with the bill, was designated a prescription therapeutic product, naturopathic doctors would not have them available to treat patients.

“Naturopathic doctors at the moment do not have prescribing authority in any of the jurisdictions where they are regulated,” O’Reilly said.

The term therapeutic product is also confusing. While natural health products are not mentioned in the bill, they currently are considered a subset of drugs, she said.

O’Reilly said naturopathic doctors aren’t the only people with questions and concerns. Patients are speaking up in the Bill C-51 debate.

“Canadians more and more are looking to options in their health care, taking responsibility and being really involved in their health care. That’s why a number of them chose to see a naturopathic doctor.”

Red Deer MP Bob Mills said his office is receiving calls and letters exaggerating the impact of Bill C-51.

“People are calling saying their medicine cabinets will be searched,” Mills said from Ottawa.

Bill C-51 is in response to Canadians demanding stricter food safety after a pet food recall in 2007 after animals died, he said.

“The minister categorically said it’s not about health food.

“This is about food that contains dangerous chemicals, so we’re going to increase the testing and make sure we have safe food.”

Bill C-51 passed second reading on May 1 in the House of Commons and has moved to the committee stage where witnesses and experts can be called to provide information to improve the bill.

Amendments may be made to the bill before it returns to the House of Commons for third and final reading. Afterwards it is sent to the Senate for consideration.

Mills said the federal government is in favour of preventive health care.

He said he has seen an improvement in his own health after taking vitamins.

“I used to be sick once or twice a year. Touch wood, I haven’t been sick in five years,” said Mills, even though he meets many people and travels frequently on planes.

“I don’t want to get a prescription for my vitamins.”

Contact Susan Zielinski at szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com