Consumer Health Products Canada Congratulates Health Canada for Meeting Important Natural Health Product Licensing Deadline

OTTAWA, Feb. 4, 2013 /CNW/ - Consumer Health Products Canada (CHP Canada), the association representing makers of over the counter (OTC) and natural health products (NHPs), publicly applauded the announcement made over the weekend by Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health, Colin Carrie, that Health Canada has now licensed more than 60,000 natural health products based on their new approach to reviewing product license applications.  Dr. Carrie also announced the repeal of the Unprocessed Product License Applications Regulations (UPLAR).

"Canadians now have access to more than 60,000 licensed natural health products as a result of the Government of Canada's more efficient approach to authorizing these products," stated Dr. Carrie.

The Unprocessed Product Licence Applications were registered on August 4, 2010 as a means for Health Canada to catch up on their backlog of natural health product applications through the issuance of exemption numbers.  These Regulations allowed natural health products to be sold legally, without a full review being completed if they did not fall into certain risk categories.

The repeal of UPLAR ensures that exemption numbers will no longer be issued. "Health Canada is taking steps to ensure that only safe and effective products will be available for Canadians," said CHP Canada spokesperson Adam Kingsley, " Canadians should be looking for products carrying a natural product number (NPN) on the label to be sure the product has been reviewed and approved by Health Canada for sale.

About CHP Canada
CHP Canada is a 115 year-old trade association representing the consumer health products industry, including the manufacturers of natural health products and over-the-counter remedies.

SOURCE: Consumer Health Products Canada/CHP Canada

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