Questions arise over Food and Drugs Act changes

Proposed changes to the federal Food and Drugs Act would not only change the face of naturopathic health in the country, but would also take away freedom of choice, says Michael Brine, a local advocate for natural health products.

Proposed changes to the federal Food and Drugs Act would not only change the face of naturopathic health in the country, but would also take away freedom of choice, says Michael Brine, a local advocate for natural health products.

And while several Yukoners have expressed their concerns to the territory’s MP, it’s something Larry Bagnell says he’s researching to see if it would, in fact, have the implications residents are concerned about.

Still others have argued there would be few changes affecting the natural health product industry.

“This is so unethical,“ Brine said during an interview last month.

Bill C-51, which passed first reading through the House of Commons in April, deals with food and drugs.

However, it’s been argued by supporters of natural health products that by using the new term “therapeutic products”, natural health items will be pushed into the same category as prescription drugs.

That would mean instead of going to the store to pick up echenecia when he feels a cold coming on, he would have to go see a doctor to get a prescription for the herbal medication, Brine argued.

Along with taking away patients’ freedom to make their own health choices, the situation could mean more pressure on the health care system as patients seek prescriptions from doctors for items they can buy on store shelves now.

“They’re over-stretched now,“ Brine said.

Information contained on bottles of natural health products as well as by staff at shops selling the items already let patients know what the products do, without the need of a doctor to prescribe it, he said.

While a doctor will have medical training, Brine was quick to note that it’s easy to put those in the medical profession on a pedestal when individuals can decide in many cases what’s best for their own body.

In many cases, people have died from being given the wrong drugs than from the disease itself.

For the most part, Western medicine deals with cures over prevention, he said.

In the past, Brine argued, people would go and pick herbs and plants to deal with illness. People ate a far more balanced diet and were much healthier, he said.

Now, more and more drug companies are gaining control over the medical system, leading to the new regulations proposed under Bill C-51, he said.

“This is a very, very serious attempt,“ he said.

What does it say about Western medicine, he asked, when North America is the sickest part of the planet?

Brine says he will defy the move and is asking others concerned about the situation to write letters to Ottawa stating their position on it as well.

Meanwhile, Bagnell said, he is taking those concerns seriously as he looks into the issue and what it will mean for natural health products.

He pointed out that under current legislation, natural health products still have to go through an extensive process before they can be sold on store shelves.

“(Those) products still have to be licensed,“ he said, noting that right now its his understanding there’s nothing in the bill that directly targets natural health products.

The situation does raise a couple of concerns for him though.

Knowing one constituent who has benefited from EMPower Plus, a mineral and vitamin supplement designed to deal with mental illnesses, Bagnell said he wants to see that remain available.

The MP also wants to see the up-to 40,000 products in the backlog of items waiting for licensing have the process speeded up after the inspection and such to ensure the items are safe.

In addition to the issues his constituents have raised about natural health products, Bagnell is concerned about Bill C-51 possibly allowing drug companies to use direct marketing (such as ads and commercials) to promote their products in Canada.

While that may not be the intent, he noted, it could be “squeaked through” if the bill passes.

After he looks at the bill further, Bagnell said, he will ask the necessary questions in the House of Commons.

Information on the proposed changes to the act are available at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/action/fdade.shtml