‘War on Natural Health’: Product Regulations Favour Pharmaceuticals, Say Industry Insiders

The regulations will cost businesses so much that Canadians will see far fewer natural health products on the shelves, they say.

A customer looks at vitamins at Green Street Natural Foods in Melrose, Mass., on July 10, 2001. Darren McCollester/Getty Images

Health Canada has for years made periodic attempts to bring natural health products under greater government control, but it’s never come this far before.

While the department says its latest regulations are in response to safety concerns, critics say such concerns are unfounded and the government is favouring the pharmaceutical industry.