Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Resolution On Bill C-51 Natural Health Products Category

Whereas Bill C-51 is a controversial Bill with an unacceptable level of uncertainty for the Traditional Chinese Medicine Community, it should therefore be formally withdrawn or defeated.

Whereas TCM has become subject to uncertain regulations, work must begin immediately on a new Canadian regulatory scheme for Natural Health Products (NHP) that specifically considers TCM.

Whereas the creation of a separate NHP Act and its associated regulations may be based upon recommendation including the 53 Recommendations brought forward by the Standing Committee on Health, it must also include direct recommendations from the TCM community.

Whereas the TCM community has been alerted to the future uncertainty of legally continuing the practice of TCM in Canada, TCM must be safeguarded through NHP legislation which is:

• constituted under its own Act of Parliament
• controlled by a small stand alone body not also tasked (directly or indirectly) with controlling pharmaceuticals
• staffed by those with established backgrounds in TCM (not those who routinely disparage these industries)
• proportionate to an objective and independent risk assessment of TCM which is based on properly corroborated data
• designed in consultation with leading TCM experts, and consumer groups who can demonstrate widespread public or industry endorsement and approval

 

The following will not be accepted by the TCM community:

• A parallel Canadian agency for TCM reflecting drug style regulation in all but name
• Planned regulatory creep which would see TCM regulated within a joint agency initiative
• Regulation of TCM under the same system as pharmaceutical and over the counter medicines in any way
• Any attempt to exclude the involvement of the TCM community from regulatory development and assessment, or the exclusion of TCM in the language or considerations within regulations

 

Prepared by: A Coalition Against Bill C-51