Natural Health Products Bill Submitted to Canadian Parliament | |||
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"The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease." Cancer is a political problem more than it is a medical problem. "No man is good enough to govern another man without that other's consent." - Abraham Lincoln
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, March 10, 2005
Lunney’s Natural Health Product Initiative Goes to Committee OTTAWA—Dr. James Lunney, MP for Nanaimo-Alberni, congratulated all Members in the House of Commons for passing the second reading of Private Member’s Bill C-420, which he originally introduced in the last session of Parliament. “The election interrupted progress on this bill, and I’m delighted to see it move forward this time around. Greater freedom of choice in personal health care is one step closer to becoming a reality,” said Lunney. Bill C-420, reintroduced in this Parliament by Lunney’s colleague Dr. Colin Carrie, MP for Oshawa, would amend the definition of food in the Food and Drugs Act to include Natural Health Products, and amend the definition of drug to exclude food. “Most Canadians are shocked to learn that vitamins, minerals and other food products are drugs under Canadian law, and that any product can be reclassified as a drug just by making a claim that it has health benefits,” said Lunney. “That is out of touch with modern science, and out of touch with the needs of Canadians.” The bill would also repeal antiquated clauses in the Act that prohibit claims of any kind on a list of diseases that include diabetes, heart disease and cancer. The move was originally recommended in 2000 by a team of seventeen experts appointed by the government to bring in new rules for Natural Health Products. “These clauses have been used for years to take effective products, even those with the most scientific evidence behind them, off the market without evidence of harm,” said Lunney. “The government has refused to listen to its own experts, who say these clauses do not reflect the prevailing science. It is time that our law caught up with science.” The bill will now go to the Standing Committee on Health, where it will be examined and possibly modified before coming back to the House. Lunney said the bill is a major step in the right direction for health care reform. “Bill C-420 is about releasing the tremendous amount of information that supports the judicious use of natural health products, and it’s about greater freedom of choice in personal health care. With a minority government, we have the opportunity to advance effectiveness and cost-effectiveness in health care,” concluded Lunney.
-30- For further information please contact: Dr. James Lunney – (613) 992-5243 or (250) 390-7550
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----- Original Message ----- From: Frank Pridham To: Frank Pridham Sent: Thursday, February 17, 2005 2:21 PM Subject: Re: CODEX regulations & Bill C-420 Dear Client, It is not often that I send out a general mailing to all of you asking for your support & participation. The following issue is of such urgency that I feel it is absolutely necessary that I contact each and every one of you. This Issue will detrimentally affect your health if you do not act now, and become involved. With the passing of CODEX regulations in Germany this summer which was sponsored by the large Pharma Industrial Giants, your supplements will be effectively taken away from you & off the shelves of the Canadian market, (health food stores) and placed under the jurisdiction of Medical prescription drugs. You will need a Doctor's prescription to get your Vitamins (C, D, E, Echinacea, Garlic pills, B-complex, herbals, minerals etc. to mention only a few). Their effectiveness will diminish, their costs will skyrocket and they will be available only from a Pharmacy prescription-counter & not off the shelf. Our only hope at the moment is to actively support Bill C-420 which would effectively move these products now, from presently being considered in Canada as drugs, to being recognized as natural whole foods. Second reading for Bill C-420 is March 2nd, in the Cdn Commons. A third & final reading is necessary before a vote can be taken to bring this proposed legislation into effect. Codex is slated to pass their rulings in July or Aug of this year. To protect our individual rights for our health and our freedom of choice, we must have Bill C-420 inplace before the Codex rulings take effect. There has been no interest taken by the Media to inform the public of such global issues being in the works, and that is the way these Corporations act (in secrecy). This issue will affect all of us and our health. You will only hear of it in the Media after the fact, and only when the laws are already passed, and your voice, no matter how concerned, will have absolutely no effect on the out come. We must all do what we can now, to keep this situation from happening. Please take the time to click on the following sites to inform yourself of the issues, and on the final site, "Friends of Freedom", which will give you an opportunity to voice your opinions. I cannot stress enough, the necessity of your involvement and your co-operation in this issue, and its urgency. (Please forward this message on to all/or/any on your mailing list to help get the word out. It is important.) frank To inform you of the issues http://www.kospublishing.com/ and a site that will show you how to help... Click on the central "Red" banner, and scroll down to the bottom of the form letter to find an insert where you may add your personal concerns, and let your wishes be known. Do it Now. To: 'Frank Pridham' Sent: Monday, February 14, 2005 1:06 PM Subject: RE: Bill C-420
Dear Mr. Pridham, Thank you for the inquiry regarding Bill C-420. C-420 was re-introduced by Dr. Lunney's colleague Colin Carrie, MP for Oshawa, on October 21, 2004. Dr. Lunney 'passed the puck' because Dr. Carrie was higher in the Order of Precedence, and would have a much greater chance to see the bill move forward. The bill received its first hour of debate at second reading on November 29, 2004. A transcript of the debate can be found here: http://www.parl.gc.ca/38/1/parlbus/chambus/house/debates/034_2004-11-29/HAN034-E.htm#OOB-1038861 The second hour of debate at second reading is currently scheduled for March 2, 2005, with the vote to take place shortly after. We are encouraging everyone to call, write, fax, e-mail and visit their MPs to encourage them to support C-420 at second reading. Thanks again for your inquiry, and for your support for C-420. Ann Bell Constituency Assistant Office of Dr. James Lunney, MP Nanaimo-Alberni 250 390 7550 Toll Free: 1 866 390 7550 www.jameslunneymp.ca From: Frank Pridham [mailto:dunhill@sympatico.ca]Sent: Monday, February 14, 2005 10:00 AM To: nanaimo@jameslunneymp.ca Subject: Re: Bill C-420
Dear Dr. Lunney, For some time now I have been following the proceedings of your Bill C-420 through the House, and am very interested in it's outcome. With the added pressure that the CODEX regulations in Germany, are proceeding to come into effect this June, 2005, and would have catastrophic effects on our own markets to fall inline or suffer sanctions, I am anxious to know just where your bill stands at the moment. What the schedule is for 3rd & final reading, and your expectations on the outcome. Please get back to me with an update, time schedule for the final passage, etc. If you need more pressure let me know, and I will canvas my mailing list of concerned clients.... Many thanks, frank pridham, Mtl, Cda
*** Received from Sota Instruments Inc. May 15, 2003. www.sotainstruments.com :
The news release issued by Dr. Lunney's office, continues: Bill C-420, entitled An Act to Amend the Food and Drugs Act, would define dietary supplements, herbs and other natural health products as food products, ensuring that natural health products are not arbitrarily classed as drugs and denied to Canadians without the scientific evidence to justify it. "Health food stores have been forced by government to remove products that are not harmful, denying people safe, natural ways to improve their health. That has to stop." said Lunney. "In 1997 over one million Canadians sent a message to government demanding that government restore their freedom of choice and access to natural health products. This bill addresses their concerns." The bill also repeals outdated regulations that prevent advertising natural products that could ameliorate a schedule of diseases or disorders. "This part of the legislation is extremely antiquated, and the weight of modern scientific evidence confirms the mitigation and prevention of many diseases and disorders through the use of natural health products. My hope is that all Members of Parliament will support this initiative enhancing freedom of choice and giving Canadians greater access to natural health products that build health bodies and therefore healthy Canadians," concluded Lunney. ...You may also want to contact the Minister of Health to draw her attention to your support of the bill: Hon. Anne McLellan, To Your Great Health, THE SOTA TEAM *** Lunney Introduces Natural Health Products Bill “Canadians deserve freedom in health choices,” says MP FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, March 20, 2003 OTTAWA—Dr. James Lunney, MP for Nanaimo-Alberni, introduced a Private Member’s Bill in the House of Commons today that would allow Canadians easier access to the natural health products they desire. “Canadians deserve the freedom to make their own health choices, and not to have those choices randomly curtailed by bureaucrats in Ottawa,” said Lunney afterwards. Bill C-420, entitled An Act to Amend the Food and Drugs Act, would define dietary supplements, herbs and other natural health products as food products, ensuring that natural health products are not arbitrarily classed as drugs and denied to Canadians without the scientific evidence to justify it. “Health food stores have been forced by government to remove products that are not harmful, denying people safe, natural ways to improve their health. That has to stop,” said Lunney. “In 1997 over one million Canadians sent a message to government demanding that government restore their freedom of choice and access to natural health products. This bill addresses their concerns.” The bill also repeals outdated regulations that prevent advertising natural products that could ameliorate a schedule of diseases or disorders. ”This part of the legislation is extremely antiquated, and the weight of modern scientific evidence confirms the mitigation and prevention of many diseases and disorders through the use of natural health products. My hope is that all Members of Parliament will support this initiative enhancing freedom of choice and giving Canadians greater access to natural health products that build healthy bodies and therefore healthy Canadians,” concluded Lunney. -30- For further information please contact: Dr. James Lunney – (613) 992-5243 or (250) 390-7550
Good morning, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, February 2, 2004 Natural Health Products Bill Reinstated “Freedom of choice in personal health care at stake,” says Lunney OTTAWA—Dr. James Lunney, MP for Nanaimo-Alberni, renewed his call for greater access to Natural Health Products (NHPs) today, coinciding with the reinstatement of his Private Members’ Bill (PMB), C-420. It is expected that Committee will promptly review the matter, hear witnesses, and return the bill to the House for third and final reading. “Canadians deserve freedom of information and freedom of choice in personal health care,” said Lunney. Bill C-420, one of only five PMBs restored at second reading stage, would move NHPs from under a repressive ‘drug-style’ directorate to a ‘food-style’ directorate more appropriate for low-cost, low-risk, non-patentable products with a long history of safe use in Canada. It would also repeal antiquated clauses that restrict information and access to effective vitamin, mineral and herbal products. “Bill C-420 will assure good manufacturing practices, plant and product inspections and a quality assessment of health claims,” said Lunney. The current Food and Drugs Act (1934) prohibits any health claim for a whole range of diseases (Schedule A). The Office of Natural Health Products (ONHP) Transition Team, commissioned to bring in the new directorate, stated “the weight of modern scientific evidence confirms the mitigation and prevention of many of the diseases and disorders listed in Schedule A through the judicious use of NHPs. It is time that the legislation and regulations reflect the prevailing science.” Unfortunately, the government chose to regulate without the promised legislative renewal. “It is absurd that current legislation blocks products that could enhance personal health and reduce spiralling health expenditures. Bill C-420 would implement the recommendations of the Transition Team, and provide the enhanced freedom of choice that Canadians are looking for,” concluded Lunney. -30-
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, April 22, 2004 Health Committee Examines Lunney’s Bill “Canadians deserve access to health promoting products,” says MP OTTAWA—Dr. James Lunney, MP for Nanaimo-Alberni, appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health today, presenting evidence in support of his natural health products (NHP) bill C-420. “Health Canada has a long history of bias against NHPs, and the new regulations continue that bias. This bill strikes at the heart of the problem, and will give Canadians the freedom of choice they deserve,” said Lunney afterward. New regulations classify NHPs as drugs. Bill C-420 would move the whole directorate to food-style regulation. The bill would also repeal antiquated sections of the Food and Drugs Act that have been used to take effective, low-risk products off the market. “Health Canada officials have been using the authority of their office and this archaic legislation to rob Canadians of their freedom to choose low-cost, low-risk products for their personal health care,” said Lunney. “What the new regulations continue is unscientific and worse yet, contrary to the public interest.” In his concluding remarks to the Committee, Lunney drew attention to the fact that the Public Accounts Committee on the sponsorship scandal was hearing testimony from Chuck Guité; that scandal has rocked the capital. “When you steal their money, people get mad, especially when its hundreds of millions,” said Lunney. “But when people come to understand that bureaucratic interference and technical obstructionism has blocked access to better health care, the ground may well split.” “Canadians have an expectation that Health Canada would have an interest in promoting the health of Canadians. With health care in crisis, it is simply not acceptable to obstruct access to low-risk, low-cost options,” concluded Lunney. -30-
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