Improving the Regulatory Environment for Natural Health Products

In April 2024, the Chamber responded to our members' request to establish a forum for businesses in the health and wellness sector to connect and share ideas and perspectives and a way to get to know other businesses in the health and wellness sector for both regulated and unregulated industries. A committee was established to represent the region’s health and wellness sector, creating a forum to listen and respond to both public and industry concerns and identify and address issues impacting the Health and Wellness sector. The committees desire is to ensure a business atmosphere that is conducive to sustainable long-term economic and community growth and that will protect and expand the health and wellness profession in our region.

One of the first issues considered was the Federal Self-Care Framework and the impact on Natural Health Products. After the committee agreed to address the concerns, the next steps were to develop a position and recommendations that we could take forward to Government. Following consultations within the industry and research into the challenges that the regulations have on industry, the Chamber adopted a policy position in June 2024. 

Following the Chamber's adoption of these recommendations, the policy position was then submitted for consideration to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce to be considered during the annual policy conference in October 2024. Awareness grew and new collaborations developed with support and collaboration with the Carleton Place & District Chamber of Commerce, the Peterborough + Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce and the Redwater & District Chamber of Commerce. In addition, the Chamber was able to leverage the private members' bill that was introduced by MP Blaine Calkins, which has passed first and second reading in Parliament and has been referred to the Standing Committee on health: https://www.parl.ca/LegisInfo/en/bill/44-1/C-368. We have made MP Calkins aware of our work so this can be carried forward.

We have also gained additional support through the Canadian Health Food Association (CHFA). As Canada’s largest trade association dedicated to natural health, organic and wellness products, CHFA is committed to representing their members and the industry on proposed regulatory changes that will influence consumer health choices, and directly influence the natural, organic and wellness industry. Their membership base consists of over 1,100 businesses across Canada, including manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, distributors and importers of wellness products, including a variety of natural health products. CHFA wholeheartedly has endorsed the policy recommendations outlined in our resolution. You can read their letter online here.

The Chamber recently also met with the Natural Health Products Protections Association, as they have had been advocating on this file for since 2023. 

The Chamber's policy was adopted by delegates across Canada at the Canadian Chamber policy conference in October (can link to other post) with the Chamber's focus now shifting to advocacy and leveraging partnerships and strength of the Canadian Chamber to continue to move this important work forward. 

Why this matters: With limited implementation timelines, exorbitant fee increases and additional regulatory burdens, the new standards will cause significant issues within the industry, consumers and government. The fees, regulations and compliance costs are viewed as unnecessary changes to a system that was deemed to be working after the Natural Health Products Regulation in 2004 and will have a ripple effect on the sustainability of NHP businesses, but also increased costs for consumers.

It is because of the engagement of our members, advising and assisting us in the development of viable solutions that we are able to represent them at all levels of government, whether local, provincial or national issues. 

If you want to get more involved, inquire about our Committees and see where you can get involved.