Introducing the Natural Health Product Protection Association (NHPPA): Championing Canadians' Access to Natural Health Products
by Veronica Jean

For over 15 years, the Natural Health Product Protection Association (NHPPA) has been a steadfast advocate for Canadians’ rights to access natural health products (NHPs). Founded in response to increasing regulatory pressures, the NHPPA has dedicated itself to ensuring that Canadians can continue to use NHPs as part of their health and wellness routines. This article will introduce the NHPPA, highlight our collective successes, and explain how you can get involved in supporting this vital cause.

Our Mission and Goals

The NHPPA was established with the primary goal of protecting Canadians’ access to natural health products. As an organization, we believe in the power of natural remedies and the right of individuals to choose how they manage their health. Our mission is to safeguard the availability of NHPs against overreaching regulations that threaten their affordability, variety, and innovation.

A History of Advocacy and Success

Over the years, the NHPPA has achieved numerous successes in defending the rights of Canadians to access natural health products. One of our most significant achievements was the successful campaign against Bill C-51 in 2008. This Bill posed a serious threat to the availability of natural health products by proposing stringent regulations that would have treated NHPs similarly to pharmaceutical drugs. Many in the industry felt it would be impossible to stop this legislation and campaigned to amend the bill instead. Through relentless advocacy, public engagement, and raising awareness, the NHPPA played a crucial role in stopping Bill C-51. This victory was a testament to the power of collective action and the importance of protecting Canadians’ rights to choose natural health options.

Current Campaigns

Unfortunately, at the hands of Health Canada, the natural health product industry continues to face new threats. We have several current active campaigns:

1. Opposing Bill C-69: The 2024 Budget Bill (Bill C-69) included provisions that could severely restrict access to NHPs and limit healthcare practitioners’ autonomy by granting Health Canada broad regulatory powers.
2. Pushing back against the Self-Care Framework (SCF): The SCF aims to harmonize the regulation of NHPs with over-the-counter chemical drugs, a move that threatens the availability of many NHPs. One of the most concerning aspects of the SCF is the elimination of “traditional use evidence” for product licensing, which could lead to the loss of most of our natural health products. An example of “traditional use evidence” is a claim on a product label that states “ginger is traditionally used to prevent nausea,” a claim that relies on thousands of years of wisdom and has a pivotal role in the licensing process for natural health products and traditional remedies in Canada. Under the new SCF rules, such claims will no longer be allowed, leading to the removal of most products from the Canadian market.
3. Advocating for Bill C-368: Introduced to Parliament by MP Blaine Calkins, this Bill aims to protect natural health products from overreaching regulations by repealing sections 500-504 of Bill C-47 (Canada’s 2023 Budget Bill) that moved NHPs into the same regulatory category as pharmaceutical drugs. Bill C-368 passed its second reading in Parliament—a monumental step forward. We are mobilizing public support, via hundreds of thousands of communications to MPs, to ensure this Bill continues to advance and ultimately becomes law, safeguarding the accessibility and affordability of NHPs for all Canadians.

How You Can Get Involved

The success of the NHPPA’s advocacy efforts relies on the support and engagement of Canadians like you. The best way to stay informed about our latest campaigns, legislative updates, and ways to take action is by subscribing to our email newsletter. Visit nhppa.org/subscribe to sign up today. By subscribing to our newsletter and participating in our campaigns, you can play a vital role in ensuring that Canadians continue to have the freedom to choose natural health products for their wellness needs. Together, we can ensure that natural health products remain accessible and affordable for all Canadians.

Veronica Jean is National Campaign Director of the Natural Health Product Protection Association (NHPPA), nhppa.org.