Harper Government Continues to Engage with Traditional Chinese Medicine Community in Canada

April 10, 2013
For immediate release

Vancouver - Today, Parliamentary Secretary of Health, Dr. Colin Carrie attended the second meeting of the Advisory Council on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), on behalf of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health.

"A growing number of Canadians rely on Traditional Chinese Medicine as a part of maintaining their overall health," said Dr. Carrie. "As we gain a better understanding of TCM, we're able to improve Canadians' access to a wider range of safe and effective TCM products."

The mandate of the Advisory Council is to provide the Government of Canada with advice on current and emerging issues related to TCM, such as 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. Advisory Council members represent stakeholder groups including industry, consumers and patients, health care professionals and academics.

While the practice of TCM is regulated by Provincial Ministries of Health, 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.

To date, more than 2,000 TCM products are authorized for sale in Canada.

The Advisory Council was established by Minister Aglukkaq in January 2012, following roundtable discussions with TCM stakeholders and community leaders in the fall of 2011. The inaugural meeting of the Advisory Council was held in Toronto on July 18, 2012.

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