[CANMEDLIB] FW: Proposed updates on Natural Health Product Regulations, show your consumer support

[Amanda Ross-White]

***Apologies for cross-posting***

I'm passing this along to Canmedlibs because it directly relates to health information. I've been involved with Patients for Patient Safety Canada for nearly a decade. They are trying to get standardized labels on natural health products. If this is a topic that interests you, please send in your response. Please also feel free to forward to others who may be interested in this initiative.

Amanda
___________________________________________________________________
Amanda Ross-White, MLIS, AHIP | Health Sciences Librarian | Queen's University Library<http://library.queensu.ca/>
Pronouns: She/her/elle | amanda.ross-white at queensu.ca<mailto:amanda.ross-white at queensu.ca> | library.queensu.ca<http://library.queensu.ca/>
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4737-0968
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Due to the ongoing pandemic, for timely response all reference questions can be sent to bracken.library at queensu.ca<mailto:bracken.library at queensu.ca>




From: Patients <patients at hec-esc.ca>
Sent: July 22, 2021 12:08 PM
To: Janet Bradshaw <Janet.Bradshaw at hec-esc.ca>
Subject: Proposed updates on Natural Health Product Regulations, show your consumer support

A Call to Action:
Canadian consumers are increasingly involved in their own health care.  Standardized label information is key to making informed and safe decisions on which products to buy. This is an opportunity for you and your network to support legislation to improve labels on the products we buy.
In 2016 Health Canada began working on improving the framework of self-care over-the-counter, naturopathic and homeopathic product labelling.  That covers products you buy without prescription (think sunscreens to pain medication)  Although Nutrition Fact Tables have been on food packaging in this country since 2007, labels on self-care products have lagged behind and there have been many reports of adverse reactions due to confusion or missing label information.  With our ongoing support, in 2017 regulations on labels for over-the-counter self-care products were updated.
Now, Health Canada is proposing updates on Natural Health Product Regulations (including homeopathic products), consistent with other self-care products.  On June 26th, Phase 1 proposals on changes to the Natural Health Product Labels were published in the Gazette.  https://gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2021/2021-06-26/html/reg4-eng.html<https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgazette.gc.ca%2Frp-pr%2Fp1%2F2021%2F2021-06-26%2Fhtml%2Freg4-eng.html&data=04%7C01%7Camanda.ross-white%40queensu.ca%7Cf2df4bb7b855480f022008d94d2adaf1%7Cd61ecb3b38b142d582c4efb2838b925c%7C1%7C0%7C637625668745741904%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=PMV6%2F3AVddSTGdGdwrWeLxKwwlYGRIeD7yvqiO7BVsM%3D&reserved=0>  This publication allows for 90 days of public input.  This is the opportunity to show your support for the proposed changes.  The submission deadline is September 4, 2021.
The proposals to improve NHP labels contain four points:
1.      Standardization of labels including a fact table
2.      Standardized format of colour and font size
3.      Warnings and allergens labels
4.      Modern contact information, not just a mailing address
We're almost at the finish line and you can help support of these regulatory proposals by sending a personal email.   You can also share this request with your network.  For convenience, two sample emails are provided, but please make your email your own.  You may also add any personal experience of label confusion with natural health products you may have.
To have your voices heard during this time of public consultation:
1.      Send your personal support email to Health Canada at:
Hc.lrm.consultations-mir.sc at canada.ca<mailto:Hc.lrm.consultations-mir.sc at canada.ca>

2.     Help us track PFPSC activities by advising Janet Bradshaw (Project Coordinator) of your email to Health Canada at:
janet.bradshaw at hec-esc.ca<mailto:janet.bradshaw at hec-esc.ca>
Again, the deadline for public submissions is September 4, 2021.
Thank you so much for your assistance. Together we do make a difference and help keep Canadians safe.
Maryann Murray
Co-Chair, PFPSC

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