2005:01EI Saving the Food and Drugs Act
Whereas:
- the original intent of the Canada Food and Drug Act was “to protect the public from health hazards and fraud in the sale and use of food, drugs, cosmetics and medical devices”; and
- there is evidence that the lack of regulatory control can cost many lives, as for instance in the tainted blood scandal, the Walkerton water problems or, more recently, the withdrawal of Vioxx from the market; and
- the new legislation would shift from health protection (a duty of care) to risk management; prevent the application of the Precautionary Principle and instead shift the burden of proof so that products have to be proven unsafe rather than safe; and allow direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs:
Therefore be it Resolved:
- that the National Council of Women of Canada (NCWC) adopt as policy that the Food and Drugs Act be retained and its regulations enforced and improved where necessary, especially in terms of the Precautionary Principle; and be it further
- that the National Council of Women of Canada (NCWC) urge the Government of Canada to:
a. withdraw its proposal for new health protection legislation and
b. enforce the Food and Drugs Act and rebuild the independent testing, inspection and enforcement programs that are necessary to fulfill its “duty of care”; and be it further - that NCWC urge its members to address their members of Parliament on this issue.