Is this for real? A bill in Canada that would fastrack phramaceuticals and limit natural remedies.

[DrZeeLit]

A friend just sent me this petition and asked, "Is this for real?"

We're both NOT Canadians, but we both see the HORRIBLE implications, if this is real.
More power given to any drug companies means more power to all drug companies.
And the feeling that ... sooner or later....

Link to petition: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/stop-bill-c-51.html

Link to another article: http://mwiner.wordpress.com/2008/05/...trial-funding/


Summary of the more controversial aspects (clip from petition website):

"1) Fasttrack pharmaceutical drug approval and
2) Make over 70% percent of current herbal drugs illegal." (from second article)

"This Bill will remove more than 70% of Natural Health Products from Canadians and many others will be available by prescription only. The Bill will restrict research and development of natural alternatives in favour of high risk drugs.

Canadians will be punished for simply speaking about or giving a natural product without the approval of the government and be levied fines of up to $5, 000,000.00 and/or 2 years in jail per charge. If C-51 is passed, law government agents will be able to enter private property without a warrant, take your property at their discreation, dispose of your property, not reimburse for losses, seize your bank accounts without a warrant, and the list goes on."

I would like to be able to send my friend some information.
Any Canadians in the know?

[tuvor]

1. Harper Index: Pharmaceutical lobby calls shots on food and drug amendments

Posted in the Canada forum last month, just one article of many, I'm sure.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=190x24416

[jeanruss]

2. mercola.com

I have just read at mercola.com that the Canadian Health Minister has changed the proposed law because of the uproar from citizens. Vitamins will not be treated the same as pharmaceuticals. Codex has been trying to get vitamins classed as drugs for a while now, and sadly has succeeded in England. Now they have turned to Canada and I'm sure we are next. Simply put, governments don't want citizens healthy to protect the profits of pharmaceutical companies. Sick people can't protest and keep an eye on what they are doing.

[MonkeyFunk]

3. sigh

http://www.healthycanadians.ca/pr-rp/billC-51_e.html

1. How will Bill C-51 change the way natural health products are regulated?

Bill C-51 will not affect the way that natural health products are regulated in Canada. The Natural Health Product Regulations, introduced in 2004, will continue to operate the same way under the proposed Bill C-51. Bill C-51 has been drafted to complement and support current policies for natural health products.

2. Why is it necessary to regulate natural health products?

The legislation requires vigilance to ensure that tainted products are found and recalled, that what is on the label is actually in the bottle, and that health claims are supported by evidence. Health Canada often issues warnings about mislabelled products or products that have serious adverse reactions. For example, diethylene glycol was found in fluoridated toothpaste and liver toxicity has been associated with the use of a Black cohosh product that was found to contain a species of the plant different than the one stated on the label. We have also seen cases where a natural health product makes a completely unfounded health claim- the ability to cure cancer or SARS for example. In addition, the increasing import of products and ingredients from foreign countries will require oversight to assure product safety and quality for Canadians.

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