For Immediate Release June 24, 2008
Komarnicki Outlines Government’s Steps to Protect Consumers
Ottawa (June 24, 2008)-- Ed Komarnicki, M.P., Souris- Moose Mountain and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
With store shelves lined with consumer products that originate from all parts of the world, Canadians are asking for more information about the products they buy and are demanding tougher consumer product safety measures. Our government is taking action to modernize Canada’s consumer product regulations through a new labelling plan to clearly identify Canadian foods, new Consumer Product Safety legislation, and proposed amendments to the Food and Drugs Act that also impact Natural Health Products. The measures are part of the government’s Food and Consumer Safety Action Plan.
As Canada’s food supply has become increasingly global in nature, the government has announced a plan to modernize the federal guidelines governing use of “Product of Canada” and “Made in Canada” labels to ensure they clearly identify the Canadian content in food products. Under the proposed new guidelines, in order that a manufacturer be allowed to use the “Product of Canada” label, all or virtually all of the contents of the product must be Canadian. Therefore, all major ingredients, processing, and labour used to make the product would need to be Canadian. A qualified “Made in Canada” label would be applied to products containing imported ingredients as long as the products are manufactured or processed in Canada. These new guidelines would better reflect the true origins of food products in the modern marketplace so consumers can know exactly what they are getting when they go to the grocery store.
“When Canadians hear that under our present laws ‘Made in Canada’ and ‘Product of Canada’ food labels only mean that the last major change to the composition of the product occurred in Canada and that at a minimum 51% of the total direct costs of producing or manufacturing the goods are Canadian, they have every reason to be concerned,” said Komarnicki.
“Also, when Canadians hear about California spinach infected with E.coli bacteria, children’s toys that contain toxic levels of lead, toothpaste made with the same ingredients found in anti-freeze and brake-fluid, or the presence of a potentially toxic chemical, bisphenol-A, in many plastic baby bottles, they have the right to be alarmed,” Komarnicki added.
It is for this reason the government is taking a further step to protect Canadian consumers and enhance their confidence in the safety of the products they buy with the introduction of a new Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, Bill C-52. Highlights of the legislation include:
• Increasing authorities to monitor and
prevent unsafe products from entering the Canadian marketplace;
• A general prohibition against the manufacture, importation,
advertisement or sale of consumer products that are a danger
to human health or safety;
• A requirement of mandatory reporting by suppliers of
serious product-related incidents – including near-misses
and defects, allowing for more targeted oversight;
• Improved public access to information about product
safety;
• Dramatically increased fines for violations; and
• A new power for the federal government to order recalls
of unsafe consumer products.
“The bottom line is for the first time ever, the federal government will have the power to automatically pull dangerous products from store shelves when a company fails to act,” said Komarnicki.
Another key component of the government’s Consumer Food and Safety Action Plan includes proposed amendments to the Food and Drugs Act which are outlined in Bill C-51 and will have some impact on Natural Health Products.
“There has been considerable concern expressed by Natural Health Product users regarding this legislation that has led to a significant number of constituents writing and contacting my office,” said Komarnicki. “Unfortunately, there has been a lot of misinformation concerning the impact this legislation will have on Natural Health Products.”
Essentially, Bill C-51 will not affect the manner in which Natural Health Products are regulated in Canada as the Natural Health Products regulations introduced in 2004 will continue to operate the same way under proposed Bill C-51. Compliance and enforcement activities will continue to be guided by the existing policy however in line with consumer protection. Canada will be able to recall products in situations where there are clear health and safety concerns.
The Minister of Health has listened to the concerns of Members of Parliament from across the country who have heard from their constituents, and in order to address those concerns has held cross country consultations. As a result of these consultations, further amendments to the Bill have been introduced to ensure legitimate fears of Natural Health Product users are addressed. For the first time, if the proposed amendments are adopted, Natural Health Products would be defined within the Act as a “third” category apart from Food and Drugs. The proposed amendments will make it clear that regulations relating to drugs will not apply to Natural Health Products.
“I personally want to be assured that Natural Health Product users can continue to use products they view as helpful in addressing their health concerns so long as there are no clear health and safety concerns,” said Komarnicki.
The Health Committee will hold hearings in the fall of 2008 to hear any concerns with respect to the proposed amendments.
“For more information on any of the initiatives the government is taking in its Food and Consumer Safety Action Plan, I would invite constituents to visit www.healthycanadians.ca. They should also feel free to contact my office if they have any questions or wish to relay any concerns,” concluded Komarnicki.
