C-51 threatens natural products industry and Canadian health, say Greens

OTTAWA – The Green Party is calling on Members of Parliament to vote down Bill C-51, a government bill designed to restrict the use and sale of natural health products. Bill C-51 would amend key terminology in the Food and Drugs Act to impose a licensing requirement on natural health products, drastically restricting their legality and availability.

“Bill C-51 radically alters the Food and Drugs Act in ways that would allow government to control and restrict natural products, including herbs, vitamins and even foods like blueberries,” said Green Party leader Elizabeth May. “Many Canadians are shunning pharmaceuticals in favour of effective natural health foods and products, but Mr. Harper seems bent on helping the pharmaceutical industry stifle competition from natural products.”

Ms. May said that the Bill expands the federal government’s power to reject natural products, imposes extreme fines on those who violate the proposed new rules and criminalizes natural health practitioners by providing Health Canada with alarming enforcement powers. She added that limiting natural products may force Canadians to turn to pharmaceuticals instead.

“The text of Bill C-51 is rife with Orwellian doublespeak. It is worded to confuse and is promoted by the Conservatives as legislation designed to protect Canadians’ health. But clearly, Prime Minister Stephen Harper cares only about protecting profits for Big Pharma.”

Green Party acting Health Promotion critic Jake Cole added that the Bill would prevent parliamentary scrutiny before synchronizing Canadian Food and Drug laws with those of foreign countries. The government could simply introduce new regulations without proposing legislation and seeking parliamentary approval.

“Mr. Harper is threatening the health of every Canadian with this draconian legislation,” said Mr. Cole. “Those who use natural health products to obtain relief from medical conditions are doomed to suffer. The Green Party opposes any move to force pharmaceuticals on Canadians who prefer natural products.”