February 20, 2008 – Effective 1er June 2008, certain natural health products may carry medical claims. So don’t be surprised to read St. John’s Wort supplement packages that it can treat depression, or ginger supplement packages that can reduce nausea during pregnancy.
Since 2004, Health Canada has taken steps to gradually regulate the marketing of natural health products (NHPs). The new regulations will therefore make it possible to make claims regarding the effectiveness of certain NHPs in preventing or treating specific health disorders, a privilege hitherto reserved for the synthetic drug industry.
Health Canada is currently reviewing some 40 disorders and diseases, for which it is prohibited to specify whether an NHP can contribute to treatment or act in prevention. These diseases include, among others, arthritis, cancer, depression, diseases affecting the bladder, prostate or heart.1. According to the Federal Ministry, “consumers will have access to more comprehensive information and will therefore be able to make more informed health choices”.
However, manufacturers will need to report on the medical evidence published in recent years regarding the efficacy of NHPs for specific medical uses. “The strength of the evidence required from manufacturers to justify a health claim is proportional to the importance of the claim,” says Health Canada.
Pierre Lefrançois – PasseportSanté.net
1. See the complete list: http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en [Consulter le 21 février 2008].
