Before Bill C-47 and C-69, Health Canada already had extensive powers to ensure compliance.
They could:
- Order the stop-sale of any product
- Revoke product licenses
- Seize products
- Conduct random inspections at any time
- Impose fines up to $5,000, and/or 3 years in prison. (Recently, Health Canada increased the maximum fine to $5,000,000 per day of offense, aligning it with pharmaceutical penalties).
It’s also important to remember that every natural health product in Canada must be licensed by Health Canada and display an NPN or DIN-HM number on the label before reaching the market.
Canada’s natural health products are already heavily regulated. The Self-Care Framework, though presented as a safety measure, will instead drive trusted, affordable products off the market by imposing excessive financial burdens. Many companies that Canadians rely on simply won’t survive these new requirements, reducing consumer choice without improving safety.
