For the occasion of International Self-Care Day, Heath Canada highlights progress on modernizing self-care product regulation

Statements

July 24, 2017 - Ottawa, ON - Health Canada

Every day, countless Canadians rely on self-care products such as cosmetics, natural health products and non-prescription drugs to maintain their health, treat minor ailments and improve their appearance.

Health Canada is looking to modernize the way it regulates self-care products. Currently, three different sets of rules apply to these products, each with their own requirements and level of oversight. The way these products are presented or marketed in many stores, as well as the claims they make, can make it hard for some consumers to tell them apart from each other.

To address this uneven landscape and to make it easier for Canadians to decide which products are right for them, Health Canada is proposing a modernized approach to the regulation of self-care products. The overall goals of the approach are straightforward:

  • self-care products would be regulated according to risk to consumers;
  • self-care products making similar health claims would require similar evidence; and
  • Health Canada would have appropriate powers to address safety concerns and non-compliance.

Further to the initial online public consultation in the fall of 2016, the Department conducted additional public consultations to collect diverse perspectives on this important matter. Through a series of webinars and in-person meetings in cities across Canada, Health Canada engaged consumers, industry, health care professionals, academia and other interested stakeholders on the Department’s proposal.

Today, on International Self-Care Day, Health Canada is publishing a summary of what it heard during the webinar and in-person meetings. Overall, participants were very engaged and interested in Health Canada’s proposal, and provided feedback on how products would gain market entry, the information that would be made available to assist consumers in making an informed choice, and how Health Canada will monitor these products (through site licensing, compliance and enforcement, and vigilance).

Health Canada is now examining this valuable feedback, and is determining the next steps for developing the regulations.

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Media Relations
Health Canada
613-957-2983

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613-957-2991
1-866 225-0709

Health Canada news releases are available on the Internet at: www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/news/media-room.html.

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