Whereas:

• Natural Health Products (NHPs) include a wide range of commonly used products such as vitamins, minerals, probiotics, herbal remedies, protein powders, body care products, and other health-supporting products relied upon daily by Canadians of all ages;

• Health Canada’s regulatory changes, including new fees, stricter compliance requirements, and limitations on the sharing of truthful health information, threaten the affordability, accessibility, and availability of NHPs in Canada;

• Canadians have a fundamental right to make informed choices about how they prevent illness and how they address illness or injury in their own bodies, including the use of Natural Health Products;

• Canadians want the freedom to access Natural Health Products and to receive information from qualified natural health practitioners and retailers to help manage their personal health needs;

• Natural health retailers and practitioners should not face excessive fines or penalties for providing advice, care, and services related to Natural Health Products;

• Bill C-224, An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (natural health products), would amend the Food and Drugs Act to clarify that Natural Health Products are not therapeutic products within the meaning of the Act and therefore should not be subject to the same regulatory and monitoring regime as pharmaceutical drugs, ensuring continued access to safe, affordable Natural Health Products for Canadians.

                                      

We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the House of Commons in Parliament assembled to:

• guarantee the right of every Canadian to access, choose, and use Natural Health Products;

• protect Natural Health Product practitioners and retailers in providing information;

• ensure there is no increase to registration costs imposed by Health Canada; and

• vote in support of Bill C-224.