Parliamentary Secretary Colin Carrie takes part in Traditional Chinese Medicines council meeting

Continues dialogue with community members on current and emerging topics related to Traditional Chinese Medicines

TORONTO, Jan. 21, 2015 /CNW/ - Dr. Colin Carrie, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment, met today with the Advisory Council on Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM) to discuss TCMs and their relation to the regulatory framework for health products.

Items on the meeting agenda included TCM product licensing, compliance and adverse reaction reporting.

The Advisory Council was established in January 2012 to provide the Minister of Health with advice on a range of new and emerging issues related to TCM in Canada.

Quick Facts

• Health Canada provides oversight of TCM products under the Natural Health Products Regulations, to help assure that they are safe, effective and of high quality. More than 3,000 TCM products are currently authorized for sale in Canada.
• On November 27, 2014, Health Canada launched a consultation on a new Consumer Health Products Framework designed to provide an aligned regulatory approach to consumer health products, including non-prescription drugs, natural health products, disinfectants, and cosmetics.
• The Advisory Council provides advice to the Minister on TCM-related issues, including the importation, sale and use of TCM products in Canada; the practice of TCM in Canada (noting that this is subject to provincial jurisdiction); and novel TCM products.
• The Advisory Council supported Health Canada in the development of a monograph of TCM ingredients that has provided guidance to industry on product licence applications and labelling.

Quote
"As more Canadians choose Traditional Chinese Medicines, our need to know more about these products grows. I'm grateful that we are able to benefit from the knowledge and experience of our Advisory Council members."
Dr. Colin Carrie
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment

Associated Links
Advisory Council on Traditional Chinese Medicine
Monograph - Traditional Chinese Medicine Ingredients

Health Canada news releases are available on the Internet at: www.healthcanada.gc.ca/media

SOURCE Health Canada

For further information: Contacts: Michael Bolkenius, Office of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Federal Minister of Health, [phone], Health Canada; Media Relations: [phone]; Public Inquiries: [phone], 1-866 225-0709