Victory in the Fight for Canadians’ Access to Natural Health Products: Bill C-368 Passes Committee Stage, Moves to Third Reading in the House of Commons

OTTAWA, ON – December 2, 2024:

Last week, Bill C-368 successfully advanced through the committee stage in the House of Commons—a critical milestone in safeguarding Canadians’ access to natural health products (NHPs). This achievement is a key component of the Canadian Health Food Association’s (CHFA’s) Save Our Supplements campaign, which aims to address growing concerns over the impact of excessive regulatory red tape on the availability and affordability of NHPs in Canada. The legislation, introduced by MP Blaine Calkins (Red Deer–Lacombe), seeks to repeal provisions in Bill C-47, a 2023 budget bill that controversially redefined NHPs as therapeutic products, subjecting them to Vanessa’s Law and strangling them in red tape.

The changes to the NHP industry threaten the viability of businesses and, consequently, Canadians’ access to essential vitamins and supplements. To preserve access to these trusted products, relied upon by 32 million Canadians, it is vital to implement compliance measures tailored to the unique safety profile of NHPs—ensuring responsible oversight without compromising availability.

“Bill C-368 ensures the unique nature of natural health products is respected and protects Canadians’ continued access to safe and effective NHPs,” said Aaron Skelton, President & CEO of CHFA. “We commend MP Calkins for his leadership and the committee members who supported this important legislation. We also thank MP Luc Theriault (Montcalm) who put forward logical amendments regarding important recall powers and MP Julien (New Westminster-Burnaby) for backing the bill with his vote on the amendments.”

While this is a big step forward in the fight to Save Our Supplements, the looming threat of Health Canada’s cost recovery program remains. The Minister of Health has yet to acknowledge the millions of Canadians who have expressed concerns about rising costs and the stifling of product innovation due to excessive red tape and hefty fees. CHFA remains steadfast in its commitment to working collaboratively with Parliamentarians and Health Canada to ensure that the regulatory oversight of NHPs is appropriate, transparent, and developed in consultation with stakeholders. 

Canadians can show their support for Canadian-made natural health products by connecting directly with their MPs to make their voice heard. For more information, please visit saveoursupplements.ca.

About the CHFA:
The Canadian Health Food Association (CHFA) is Canada’s largest trade association dedicated to natural, organic and wellness products. As a national not-for-profit association, our members include manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, distributors, and importers committed to getting more healthy living products into the hands of more Canadians.  Visit chfa.ca for more info.

-30-