Re: With Supplements never assume ‘natural’ means safe
André Picard
May 31, 2016
June 1, 2016
André Picard’s recent opinion column highlighted an exceptional case, and the low risks of side
effects which are uncommon among the 77 per cent of Canadians who use natural health
products (NHPs). It should be noted that Canada has one of the most robust regulatory systems
of NHP oversight in the world. The safety and efficacy of NHPs and their health claims must be
supported by proper evidence so that consumers and Health Canada know the products are
indeed safe and effective.
The Natural Health Products Regulations require product licence holders to monitor all adverse
reactions related to their product. They must report serious and unexpected adverse reactions
to Health Canada. Reporting side effects is important as it helps Health Canada identify rare or
serious adverse reactions, make changes in product safety information, issue warnings and
public advisories, and/or remove unsafe products from the Canadian market. Canadians should
have confidence in our regulatory system.
Thank you,
Helen Long
President, CHFA