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New natural health product rules to allow cancer prevention claims

CARLY WEEKS

From Monday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 3:48 PM EDT 08/02/08

Changes to federal labelling rules to give natural health industry unprecendented freedom to promote ability of products to prevent disease ...Read the full article

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  1. P Conner from toronto, Canada writes: Some of the dissenters seem to overlook that the pharmaceutical industry has been making dubious claims and has been providing Health Canada shoddy, biased research for decades. Many natural health products use ingredients known for millenia to be effective in preventing and treating illness. Let's give the natural health industry a chance and consumers a choice.
  2. m mills from vancouver, Canada writes: Health Canada is an underfunded, dysfunctional government agency that consistently fails to protect Canadians' health. The Harper government is even less likely than the previous Liberal government to bring Health Canada up to the level necessary to truly look out for our health and product safety interests. Health Canada and the federal government serves and has consistently served only corporate profit interests by its shedding of scientific expertise from government research/investigation of products and has actively driven conscientious/qualified scientists out of government service. Health Canada is more a function of Industry Canada than it is a protector of Canadian health.
  3. s like from Canada writes: Here come the snake oil salesmen. It's bad enough already with all kinds of products making all kinds of dubious claims.
  4. just oneopinion from Canada writes: Remember back in the 1800's when preventative tonics, treatments, and claims of cure were all roots, herbs and spices with nothing but anecdotal and fictional "proof" of effect? Well Health Canada has provided a screening tool for the faulty and biased evidence that pharmaceutical companies provide to promote the profit generation of their products, but this latest gaff - allowing the alternative fringe to start promoting the miracles of their imagingation as proven truth is only going to lead to a growth industry in the confusion of the general public consumer. Are we going to see lists of potential adverse reaction and agent -agent interaction with all these products? I don't see how, as none of them has been tested against or in combination with current pharmaceutical medication.
    Time to lower your expectations even more!
  5. emilio D from Vancouver, Canada writes: Unfortunately, most of these natural health products come from China. You might cure one type of cancer and develope another type of cancer. You are dead just the same.
  6. Alaina Cactus from Canada writes: Hear hear, P Conner!

    Everyone is so quick to accept new, pharmaceuticals when they come from big names like Merck and GlaxoSmithKline. And yet, they too provide funding for clinical trials, resulting in a bias on their reports. They too make claims about their drugs that are not proven. They too promote 'wonder drugs' to the sick and vulnerable.
    The only difference is money. Pharmaceutical companies have the money to fund widespread marketing campaigns, convincing you that their drug is more effective than eating well and getting your vitamins.
  7. Brian Lilly from Canada writes: Hey!! S Like, you took the words right out of my mouth! Common sense eating according to the Canada Food Guide, and exercise, along with abstaining from smoking, and very moderate consumption of alcohol are very positive lifestyle modes we could and should develop and follow. We don't need the likes of 'snake oil' sales types to foist their 'health in a bottle' sales pitches to us.
  8. lary waldman from Qualicum Beach BC, Canada writes:

    Just how deep do you think someone with nasty intentions would have to dig, to put togeather a plausible endorsement for a completely useless remedy that would claim to cure cancer. And how many people, having exhausted all that conventional medicine has to offer, and are forced to face the reality that they are dieing, or no, just there on the horizon our new magic cure at only $49.95 a treatment, 10 treatments recomended. This is one of the reasons that I am scepticle about these new regulations and hope that the government chooses the hard road, the expensive road, and requires statements made on products to be true, and those that make them be held accountable by our courts. More snake oil we don't need.

    Lary Waldman
  9. Gawd Knows from Canada writes: P. Conner's remarks are 100% misleading. The pharmaceutical companies, in some cases have spent over one Billion dollars to develop a product that will cure, or minimize the effect of a disease. Before the new drug can be marketed, there is a further five years of DOUBLE BLIND tests to prove that the product is beneficial before it can be released. Lucentis, a drug that is designed to treat macular related blindness is an example of a huge investment that is undergoing this kind of testing. The Cholesterol lowering drugs are allowiing millions to live longer lives, yet all had to go through rigorous testing.

    In contrast, the alternative medicine folk never do five years of controlled tests, or spend billions to develop a product in multi-million dollar research facilities.

    Their "proof" is conjecture, hearsay, and total distortion of the truth. It is likened to the Cancer cures being sold in Mexico to those gullible and wealthy enough to pay for the useless treatment. The perpetrators of this fraud ALWAYS sited miraculous cures, but those treated ALWAYS came home to die.

    Similarly, charlatans in the Philippines were "performing" surgery with no incision, and magically removed Cancers. Chicken entrails were proclaimed to be the removed Cancers. These folks also, came home to die.

    Individuals with NO medical training, and no university education are, providing alternative health treatment for almost any disease you can name. Those with real health conditions will deteriorate, often to the point of no return.

    This move be the federal government will see our health care costs climb as those who have been treated with alternative methods will be much sicker by the time they finally see a trained medical practitioner.

    I for one, prefer to be treated by someone with seven to ten years of medical training as opposed to someone who may or may not have finished high school.
  10. Ken Gilbert from writes: Actually, although I agree with the comments of Gawd Knows above, the economics of this are not quite accurately depicted. Indeed, it is least expensive for people to take useless or dangerous treatments that they pay for themselves. They then die sooner and cost the health care system (i.e., government, tax payers) LESS, not more. So go ahead and take your snake oil -- kind of a Darwin effect.
  11. Byron Rottweiler from Canada writes: Recently I saw an ad for extra-strength Placebo pills, said to be much more effective than regular strength! I think I'm going to try them. ;)
  12. Matthew Harper from Toronto, Canada writes: The folks at Health Canada should lie awake every night thinking about the diseases festering in countless Canadians while they avoid effective treatments to take "feel-good" Natural Health Product snake oils.
  13. usually write from Canada writes: Any claims of this nature should have compelling evidence, similar to pharma claims. Also, article refers to St.Johns Wort etc as "homeopathic" medicines...I think they mean "naturopathic".
  14. Mark OMeara from Vancouver, Canada writes: hmmm I can see it on the shelves now... in between Omega 3 and Selenium... Placebo - Harness the Power of Your Mind. Dang! Couldnt remember any supplements that start with Q! Maybe I need some of the Placebo Extra Strength!
  15. Sam Snead from Canada writes: This is probably an important step in breaking the costs barriers and controls used by others to fleece the public. There is no way health care costs can continue at an ever increasing rate non-proportionally to available revenue. Some people think the public at large will just do without ... NOPE ... they will simply change the rules.

    Let's see if the natural health "business" can create real drugs at a lower costs. I bet they can.
  16. Stan L from Canada writes: My vote goes to the first government who promises to clean up Health Canada......they can't even manage to get proper labelling on cleaning products and food....much less allow the makers of natural products/drugs the oppotunity to make claims agains the efficacy of their products.....it's not that I have anything for or against natural products, but if they can't manage to properly label, regulate, monitor claims and identify country of orgin for the items we have already....what is giving liberty to any others going to do.....I already spend too much time reading about ingredients, chemicals effect and etc....please don't saddle me with any more.
  17. anonymouse Z from Canada writes: Sam Snead: Actually, the natural drugs are also in the business to make money. If demand grows because people are "naturally" drawn to it, rest assured, the prices will not go down.

    The problem is, natural resources are limited. So, in the quest of natural products, we destroy what we have left. Tiger and bear parts are considered to be natural too... do they really work, other than eliminating these animals that is.

    That's in addition to the lack of scientific testing (those that work, we don't know the side effects, especially with other drugs), quality control etc.

    Frankly, they should be made to follow the same stringent rules that pharma are told to follow.
  18. carol c from Canada writes: 'I for one, prefer to be treated by someone with seven to ten years of medical training as opposed to someone who may or may not have finished high school.'

    Chinese Doctors in BC and Ontario and Naturopaths both have extensive training that fit your criteria.

    As for the assertion that, "the alternative medicine folk never do five years of controlled tests," it's simply false. St. John's Wort, omega oils, Vitamin D, SAM-E, acupuncture, artemisia (a Chinese herb used to treat malaria, now the front line treatment), valerian, are just a few of the top of my head that have been extensively studied and proven to work against serious disease.

    There is medicine that works, both western and alternative, and there is medicine that doesn't work, both western and alternative. Neither have all the answers.

    For too long we have been blind believers of western medicine, the Doctor as God. The simple fact that the common cold can't be cured should be reason enough to know that all the answers are not there yet.

    Western medicine is astonishing in it's capacity to deal with emergencies, and surgical abilities. In terms of treatment of chronic conditions I'm not convinced they are better than any other serious medical practitioner.
  19. R. M. from Regina, Canada writes: I support ONLY if clinical trials conducted by independent parties without funding connections. Like that will ever happen!
  20. Barry Turner from Ottawa, Canada writes: They clearly have all gone mad, stark raving bonkers, at Health Canada to put the health of Canadians at risk this way. But not to worry. I have a cure for insanity that I synthesize from dehyrdrated droppings of male cattle and I will have it on the market as soon as the new regulations are in place.
  21. Sam Snead from Canada writes: anonymouse Z : I'm not suggesting anything as absurd as "they are not in it for the money". I suggesting that the margins (profit) in health care have grown well beyond what is supportable and available to the public at large. The goal isn't to drive down the price of "natural" products, the goal is to drive down prices for real solutions, natural or otherwise.

    Yes, certainly, they shouldn't be permitted to randomly label cures on products. But that isn't what is being suggested.

    I'm not crazy about natural cures, although some indeed do work. Legitimizing the field further is likely to increase the quality and science behind it, simply to capture market demand.
  22. David C from Canada writes: The reason health canada is going this route is that there is a serious problem with our current system: Natural products are not patentable, and so are of little interest to the for-profit pharmacuetical companies.

    As more and more evidence builds, it is becoming obvious that many of these natural products do have an effect on the human body (ie: Vitamin D in Cancer prevention). Are you going to get your multi center, placebo controlled double blinded trial? Not likely, there isn't a natural products company with the deep pockets of the pharma's, and even if they did prove it that way, they wouldn't have a patent to protect their product.

    What most of you don't realize is that there really is a huge body of evidence out there, just not in the form of the above trials. There are tens of thousands of research articles over the years on many of these products which alone are not proof enough, but en mass are very promising.

    Do any of you really believe that the only drug molecules out there that can cure disease are those which are synthetic (and therefore patentable)? You must be kidding. There is an entire treasure trove of molecules that have been completely ignored because of the current system we utilize for drug discovery. Anyone who denies this has been so indoctrinated into the current system that they have blinders on.

    So why not throw the information out there and let people decide? Are we Canadians really so gullible that we will buy anything with an anti-cancer claim? Do we really need our government to yet again make or maintain laws to protect us from ourselves?
  23. The World Is Mad from Hamiltonia, Canada writes: The new policy has a number benefits. Firstly it takes advantage of the placebo effect. Secondly, it will put more of the onus of health care on individuals, reducing the debilitating costs of public health care (costs are spiralling out of control due to demographic pressures) Thirdly, most franken - pharmaceuticals are over-rated when you look at the side effects and long-term consequences, many of which we still do not fully understand. For example, most physicians, if they were diagnosed with a serious form of cancer personally, would rather avoid chemo/radiation therapy and maintain a decent quality of life but over a shorter duration of time. Fourthly, people will become better informed as they sift through competing and often contradictory claims.
  24. J S from Toronto, Canada writes: Migraine sufferers - ask your neurologist about taking B2 and Magnesium. It eased my pain. It didn't eliminate the migraines, but it does reduce the intensity of them.
  25. Stan L from Canada writes: I shouldn't need to get a degree in chemistry or medicine to understand the claims made by ANY drug natural or not. I shouldn't NEED to research what I am taking to the degree that I am doing major research without benefit of any actual knowledge........Also, for those out there who ARE big proponents of 'natural' course of medications...please do not lose sight that just like 'the bg pharmaceuticals' they are in the business to make money....claims of all natural do not necessarily translate into virtue.
  26. Valerie Spentzos from Vancouver, Canada writes: This is disgusting. Both mainstream and naturopathic drugs should be extensively tested by an independent, government-sponsored research department that is the sole source of such products. As for vitamin supplements, herbs etc, the only people benefitting from them are the manufacturers and salespeople who are only too happy to reap huge profits from a populace of gullible hypochondriacs. "Everyone" does NOT believe in the efficacy of all mainstream drugs any more than they believe in the quack remedies. Government is derelict in its duty in allowing the sale of questionable products of any kind.
  27. Garry Sugden from Richmond Hill, Canada writes: Come and get it ladies and gentlemen, the secret Mayan elixir of life ... a veritable fountain of youth ... snake oil ! ... 2 bits a bottle, all you can drink!
  28. John Longshot from Canada writes: Any evidence of bribes being paid?
  29. Anne G from Canada writes: James Lunney, Conservative MP from Nanaimo-Alberni, a chiropractor who calls himself Dr. Lunney at every opportunity, has campaigned in several elections on a promise to change legislation in order to promote "natural" health products. I imagine he's very happy with the "new" government of Canada, but I'm certainly not. I think this is anything but a good development for the safety and health of Canadians.
  30. Ed Andrews from Edmonton, Canada writes: Gary Sugden; so you doy't think the slash, burn and poison alternatives offered to you by the mainstream medical establishment have any element of snake oil to them?
  31. Menno Schellenberg from Kamloops, Canada writes: I think that David C has come closest to the truth here. Natural remedies do have a lot of research and anecdotal evidence behind them. They are much more widely accepted in other cultures outside of North America, included "developed" cultures that also have access to modern medical procedures and drugs. Many pharmaceutical drugs started as natural remedies and were then sythesized in order to provide the benefits of standardization and stability over time. The natural remedies behind them continue to offer health benefits, as long as they are consumed with knowledge regarding dosage, active ingredient strength, purity, side effects, interactions, etc. This is the kind of information that the pharma companies produce for their products during their long development timelines. Consumers of natural remedies need to find this information on their own, either thru their own research, or by consulting someone active in the NHP industry that they know and trust. There are enough people willing to take these steps in order to have more control over their health, that we need to continue to make that option available to them. I am against any steps that will limit consumer choice. As in all things, the quality products will have longevity, the garbage will continue to come and go. I have been in the Canadian ginseng industry for almost 20 years. Ginseng has a record of use stretching back millennia in Chinese and N.A. First Nations culture. That's not going to go away any time soon.
  32. talk to the hand from Canada writes: step right up suckers... i mean.. canadains.

    you losers didn't stand a chance.
  33. DCM DART from Montreal, Canada writes: Fact: all companies selling pharmaceuticals or natural remedies are in business to make a buck...DUH! One type of company is not better than the other just because their products are reputedly "natural" Also, just because something is "natural" it should not be confused with the words "good for you". Many naturally occurring chemicals and organisms are highly toxic such as curare, cyanide, botulism, e-coli, etc. The problem with natural remedies is that PRIOR TO SALE they are subject to little no rigorous scientific screening using STANDARDIZED strengths and dosages in peer-reviewed, double-blind studies. The fact that people have been using folk remedies for a long time doesn't mean they are effective per se. Many claims for natural health products are based on correlational observational studies of populations without the abilitiy to separate out extraneous factors. For instance, just because the Japanese have significantly lower cancer rates and eat lots of soy does not mean: "eating soy lowers cancer rates", but this is representative of the 'quality' of many claims made for natural so-called "remedies". The fact is that people will believe whatever makes them feel better despite any lack of proof.
  34. Anuradha Bose from ottawa, writes: This is very worrisome. Some lobbyists have done a good job!
  35. Jennifer Rollison from Canada writes: Pharmaceutical companies test products for women on men. The reason: women's hormonal levels skew the results they want. The outcome: women are being prescribed drugs tested on men for specific female problems. How does that do anyone any good.
  36. Stan L from Canada writes: Jennifer Rollison from Canada writes: Pharmaceutical companies test products for women on men. The reason: women's hormonal levels skew the results they want. The outcome: women are being prescribed drugs tested on men for specific female problems. How does that do anyone any good....

    Now forgive me (becuase this is not specifically against you Jennifer but posts of this type).....but this is also part of the problem, an unsubstatiated claim made against all pharma companies designed to shape public opinion based on a non-qualified anonymous person's 'read' of information that may or may not be accurate and may or may not be from a qualified source..........it is bad enough in the internet age that there is WAY too much of this type of posting and commentary than is good for us, but to allow ANY Pharma company the ability to make claims against spurious research is ridiculous.......natural remedy does not mean better for you, nor do traditional drugs always mean success......ANY drug program should be discussed and debated with your doctor honestly and openly.....IF you can't do that, then perhaps it's not time to trust the internet or an advertisers claims....but get a new doctor who WILL discuss pros and cons with you and it relates to YOUR medical history.
  37. Randy McClure from Canada writes: carol c from Canada writes: Chinese Doctors in BC and Ontario and Naturopaths both have extensive training that fit your criteria.

    -----

    And most of it entirely useless. I went to see a Naturapath in Winnipeg, once, and saw a brochure in his office about Homeopathic remedies and promptly walked out. Quackery.

    Western medicine is popular because it has been wildely successful at curing serious diseases and keeping people alive. Antibiotics, polio vaccines, open heart surgery, sophisticated diagnostic imaging -- THIS is the stuff that works ... not shark cartilage and WD40 rubbed on your sore joints.

    I cannot fathom what was going on in the Conservative's minds when they changed this regulation. They are opening Canadian's up to fraud, deception -- even danger under the guise of "choice".

    These guys just keep dropping the ball over and over and over again. Time to vote Green -- at least they're science-based.
  38. Wayne Spitzer from Faywood, United States writes: To Jennifer Rollison - Pharmaceutical companies (with the support of the FDA or etc) prefer to do the initial testing of an introductory new drug in healthy young adults because the safety issues in young healthy adults are less complicated. They prefer to test in men, because men do not get pregnant. In helathy young women there is always concern, especially in the first trimester of a pregnancy, of the possibility of birth defects; which by the way, the company will have to pay for even if they are not responsible. Sorry, the reason is no more nefarious than that.
  39. Nassar Ben Houdja from Canada writes: Non prescription snake oil is usually less expensive than the prescription variety. Both are equal in amusing the patient till nature takes it course.
  40. carol c from Canada writes: Mr. McClure, since you refuse to investigate the services of a Naturopath, how can you then claim to be a fan of science-based medicine? Refusal to test a hypothesis is the opposite of science.

    There are certainly wonderful advances in western medicine that are life changing and profound. In my case, they had nothing to offer except increasing medications, steroids, surgeries and eventually cr@pping in a bag for life (I have colitis). A trip to a Naturopath has had my colitis in remission for about 5 years with only 2 very slight issues. I changed my diet to leave out dairy, wheat and sugar. Now I can cheat a bit and still have no issues. A whole lot better and a whole lot cheaper than all those drugs and surgeries, eh?

    If pharmaceutical companies were really interested in testing on women I wonder why they didn't try to advertise to lesbians for drug studies. It is a fairly obvious solution. The good news is that this policy is currently changing as it is obviously ridiculous to test on one gender and think the results will be the same in another.
  41. anthony rockel from Canada writes: Kevin Trudeau and like-minded hucksters will be beside themselves with glee over this dumb piece of legislation. "Natural Cures They Don't Want You to Know About" will be flying off the shelves.
  42. anthony rockel from Canada writes: Carol C: With all due respect, are you telling us that you've had a colectomy? If so, you no longer have a colon, so how could you say your colitis is in remission?
  43. anthony rockel from Canada writes: Total colectomy, although a radical procedure, is regarded as curative in ulcerative colitis. I'm not sure that I understand how naturopathic remedies could add anything to the outcome once surgery has been performed, except maybe in terms of nutritional advice.
  44. Kim Morton from Canada writes: Contrary to what the pharmacutical industry would have us believe, Naturopaths are able to cure some types of cancer and they can also offer treatments that will work in conjunction with radiation therapy. Trick is sorting out the real ones from the snake oil sellers who are just like the pharma industry. They have a financial interest in maintaining not curing.
  45. carol c from Canada writes: Mr. Rockel, if you read what I posted you will note that the sentence began, "They had nothing to offer me except ..." My colon is intact, no surgeries, no steroids, no medications, just an improved diet. You are right that western medicine considers removing the intestine as a cure for colitis. I don't think I'll sign up for that 'cure'.
  46. anthony rockel from Canada writes: I always wonder, how can anyone believe that the pharma industry, as morally flawed and self-serving as it often is, would not be falling over itself to be first to find a cure for the most common cancers? These people are human too, and just as susceptible to cancer as the rest of us. The only alternative is to believe that they've actually found cures and are keeping them in reserve for a tiny elite of friends and relatives. How long do you think they could keep the lid on that kind of information?
  47. anthony rockel from Canada writes: Carol C: My apologies-- your post led me to believe that you actually already had a colectomy. If you've been in remission that long, then you are indeed fortunate.
  48. Sullivan Cromwell from Point Grey, Canada writes: Hey, I'm just looking for the business this is going to create for more class actions. Money, money, money!
  49. web warlock from Canada writes: It took years for the doctors to diagnose my problem as a herniated disc T4-T5, right between the shoulder blades. Before this diagnosis I was offered many drugs to cover up my symptoms, which I refused because I felt the doctors weren't listening to me. "What do you mean, you get sick to your stomach and migraines the day after you pick something up the wrong way? That just doesn't make sense. They can't be connected." they said.

    Eventually after years of pain, of looking for someone to listen, one doctor said:"You seem depressed, would you like some antidepresants?"

    What a bunch of garbage. With the diagnosis of a herniated disc I went to a chiropractor. He advised I get an inversion table, it allows you to hang upside down by your ankles and use gravity and body weight as traction to stretch out the space in between the discs. It's given me much relief from the pain, and slowly I'm healing.

    The doctors say it's impossible. "Come back when you can't walk." they say. "We'll cut you open and fix you up." They told me not to listen to the chiropractor so many times, I almost believed them. I very nearly didn't even bother to try the inversion table, I thought it was hopeless because all the doctors said so. Thank goodness my wife went ahead and bought it anyway, or I'd be disabled and on drugs.
  50. Heather C from Halifax, Canada writes: I personally hate natural health products. Our society is always looking for the "quick" fix to everything. Why don't people just eat properly and exercise.
  51. Raymond P from Canada writes: Good one Jennifer. Despite the rhetoric from a few posters your post is right on. As for those who talk of snake oil salesmen, it's time to get out of the 19th century. You own a computer so perhaps it might be time to read something other than the cereal box. It wasn't the natural products industry that started promoting vitamin D, it was clinical research. Get used to it because more and more research is being done on natural products showing them to be safe and effective. P.S. Vioxx side effect: death, oops.
  52. Lane Myers from Canada writes: By God it really looks like the monkeys are driving this bus!!

    Health Canada is a disgrace !!
  53. F M from Toronto, Canada writes: It is interesting that the medical and pharmacology community take such exception to these new reporting standards. In particular, their derision with regard to lack of scientific evidence smacks of hypocrisy. Clearly their response is knee jerk and defensive, and focused on maintaining their hold on their "piece of the pie", as opposed to being constructively critical and considering the overall merit to individuals and society at large.

    As I understand, many pharmaceutical companies depend on field researchers looking into anecdotal claims of the benefit of various herbal remedies, or the benefit of dietary ingredients on people's health in larger populations. They, then segregate the active ingredients to "create" their "proprietary" pharmaceutical remedies, resulting in high cost drugs for people with difficult, on-going physical maladies. So, rather than an individual paying a few dollars a month for Milk Thistle to treat their depression, they end-up paying hundreds of dollars a month for a "proprietary" pharmaceutical that is based on the active in Milk Thistle. No doubt, drinking Milk Thistle tea has less of a negative side effect on the individual than whatever drug the pharmaceutical industry has concocted out of Milk Thistle.
  54. Gawd Knows from Canada writes: For those who believe the rhetoric of the naturopaths and snake oil salesmen, please have this identity band made to put on your wrist.

    IN CASE OF ACCIDENT OR MEDICAL EMERGENCY
    PLEASE DELIVER ME TO THE NEAREST HEALTH FOOD STORE!
  55. Hart Oldenburg from winnipeg, Canada writes: Health Canada? A year ago my G&M comment --- early retirement!
    They are only too willing to allow any brain-dead diversion to hide their inability to confront obesity! Snake oil to the rescue! Are we to buy into their predesigned studies?
    On a personal basis--- I have saved a minimum of $50,000 passing on vitamins, "health" supplements, placebos. My medical expenses? Close to zero--- at 83!
  56. John Williams from Ajax, Canada writes: Bring on the snake-oil scams scams scams!
    Overnight, an entire sub-structure of FAKE TRIALS are going to come forward.
    Nowthese companies will exploit human sickness even more, and tell people their ________ PREVENTS CANCER.

    Health Canada has jumped back over 100 years.

    Who is running that place? Is someone getting brown-evelopes full of cash in hotel rooms to push this through?

    For the companies caught lying and making false claims, will they go to jail?
    Will they be sued?

    Thanks a lot Health Canada, for wrecking Canadians Health even more.
    You just let the con-artists take over.
  57. rob gunn from Shawnigan Lake BC, Canada writes: To all that agree with Gawd Knows, Wake Up. the big pharma industry have been lieing and killing for years of great profits. Now its time for someone else to screw people out of their $ and health. We should all depend on no one but ourselves and our genetics for health. Naturopaths just try to sell stuff as do MDs some of it is good some is a waste( I do felel for the dumb sheep that listen to either). think for yourself and beware of anyone that has profit in their sites. Our health care system is a wealth care system for big pharma and the MDs who dole out their drugs. Now i quess Naturopaths can screw people for $ now to. Oh and by the way GAwd knows I went to school for 8 years after high school , got doctorate , got diploma in Acupunture( so please dont tell me Acupunturists know their chemistry) and many books and seminars on nutrition. Trust yourself and others who do not gain much from your sickness. DR. Rob
  58. Ian Gartshore from Nanaimo, Canada writes: I appreciate the concern about proving the health benefits of non-prescription drugs, reasoning that the manufacturers of these products are interested in their bottom line, and so may use questionable science to prove their claims.
    Of course, all of this is just as true of pharmaceutical drugs. Except that the latter are likely responsible for thousands of deaths every year.
    Health Canada has its work cut out for it.
  59. Murray H from Vernon, BC, Canada writes: If I were Prime Minister one of the first departments that would get my attention is Health Canada.
    It is totally irresponsible to have drug companies test and evaluate their own products.
    There is a history within the Department of firing scientists when their test results suggest products do not meet the company claims, or worse are found to be harmful.
    Health Canada should be an organization protecting the Canadian consumer, rather than an agency promoting pharmaceutical and naturopathic products.
    I would like to know which lobbyist was able to promote the passing of this legislation. I think this is a good example of what happens when you fire the Chief Science Advisor to the Government.
  60. the natural blogger from vancouver, Canada writes: The author has to get the facts straight. The amendment has never removed "cancer" from schedule A. As such, come June 2008, you cannot market a natural health product with a cancer prevention claim. I think this is a blatant attempt at distracting from the truth and to fuel the stigma behind NHPs (that they don't work). Whether you agree that they do is one thing, but to state things that aren't true on the Globe and Mail is another. Do your homework.

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