Self-care product consultation summary: Toronto
Public consultation sessions to discuss the modernization of self-care product regulation were held in Toronto, Ontario on May 2 and 3, 2017.
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Consultation summary
To modernize self-care regulation in Canada, we asked consumers and other stakeholders for input on a policy proposal.
We thank everyone who participated in these sessions. The feedback received will continue to shape the regulation of self-care products in Canada.
Participants
The number of participants who attended the consultations in Toronto was as follows:
- 69 on May 2, 2017
- 100 on May 3, 2017
People who attended the consultation included:
- academics
- consumers
- health care providers
- business representatives
- representatives of professional associations
To protect the privacy of consultation participants, their names will not be shared.
Key issues discussed
During the consultation we delivered a presentation on the context of the sessions and on the policy proposal, including:
- a two-class system of risk level, including safety and failed product efficacy
- acceptable claims within each of the two classes
- unique label identifiers and statements on labels to help consumers easily identify products
- compliance and enforcement measures to address safety concerns
Feedback: what we heard
We have included a brief summary of what we heard from participants at the public consultation sessions in Toronto.
Consultation and engagement
Participants at the public consultations said they:
- liked having the opportunity to hear balanced and diverse views
- wanted more time for discussion when there are larger audiences
- appreciated Health Canada’s openness and willingness to hear their comments
Participants at the public consultations want Health Canada to:
- include points of view from consumers and health care providers
- ensure that future rounds of consultation offer opportunities for small group discussions
- organize targeted focus groups and awareness and education activities for consumers and health care providers
- share materials in advance
Policy Proposal
Participants at the public consultations said the policy proposal should:
- consider that cosmetics, natural health products and non-prescription drugs should be grouped separately (some participants)
- consider business impacts associated with
- cost recovery
- data protection
- sampling and plain language labelling
- challenges related to cross border shopping
- address concerns about the quality of marketed products
- acknowledge the importance of inspections and provide Health Canada with the ability to enforce the rules
- consider that the addition of a unique identifier could help identify registered products, while being mindful of business impacts and the potential for added confusion in the marketplace
- consider that symbols on the label may inform consumers’ decision-making and reduce the potential for confusion (some participants), or that qualifying statements might better support informed choices (some participants)
- continue to pursue the two class approach, which is easy to understand (many participants)
- give additional details to identify differences in pathways to bring products to market, while ensuring that Canadians are protected from ingredients of concern
For more information
Health Canada – Health Products and Food Branch
Natural and Non-Prescription Health Products Directorate
250 Lanark Avenue, A.L. 2003C
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0K9
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