In a surprising about-face, [Canadian] Health Minister Tony Clement has agreed to key demands of the natural health products industry after it launched a campaign against restrictions on homeopathic medicines and herbal remedies in new legislation.

When Mr. Clement proposed amendments to the Food and Drugs Act in April, natural medicines were lumped in with pharmaceutical drugs, raising concerns they would be subject to the same type of oversight. He now admits it was a mistake not to create a separate category under the law.

The government is now proposing to insert a definition of natural health products into the Food and Drugs Act to “clearly recognize” that they’re distinct from foods and drugs under the law.

As a lower-risk product than prescription drugs, the government is proposing other changes to make it clear natural medicines will follow a different process to get to market. The new amendments make explicit mention that traditional knowledge and history of use can be considered for obtaining authorization to sell a natural health product.

The changes come after the Canadian Health Food Association, which represents manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers in the natural products industry, organized rallies across the country calling for natural health products to be recognized as a consumer product distinct from food and drugs.

Mr. Clement also acknowledged the legislation tabled in April needed to be clarified to assuage concerns about the powers of inspectors to enter health-food stores and seize their products.

—Sarah Schmidt, Canada.com, 6/13/08