Natural Health Product Awareness Day 2010
Every year, the Canadian Health Food Association (CHFA) visits Parliament Hill for their annual Awareness Day. This year, the association enlisted the help of its membership to celebrate the first ever Natural Health Products Awareness Day.
 |
CHFA's Acting President, Helen Sherrard, poses with
The Hon. Wayne Easter, PC, MP |
CHFA has worked hard to establish itself as the leading voice of the natural health and organic products industry on Parliament Hill. To spread CHFA’s unified message across the Hill, 12 CHFA member delegates met with numerous Members of Parliament (MP) on November 2nd, 2010.
CHFA’s first ever Natural Health Products Awareness Day was a huge success due to its member participation and preparation in delivering the associations key messages.
CHFA looks forward to building on these relationships with Parliamentarians and on their past success for years to come.
Parliamentary Breakfast
The day began with a special Healthy Breakfast, hosted by CHFA delegates in the Parliamentary Dining Room. A select group of MPs were invited to join the delegates for a healthy breakfast featuring a variety of organic foods.
 |
CHFA delegate Franco Salituro talks with
The Hon. Bryon Wilfert, PC, MP |
The breakfast was enjoyed in a relaxed setting and it gave the delegates the opportunity to mingle with MPs in a more casual manner while discussing current industry concerns.
This year, key messages included:
-
To ensure NHPs are no longer positioned as a subset of drugs under the Food and Drugs Act;
-
Only commence full compliance and enforcement once the recommended Standards of Evidence and Product Testing guidance documents are published and implemented.
As a token of thanks each MP who attended received background documents and an educational kit, branded with CHFA's logo, containing sample natural health products.
Press Conference
After breakfast, CHFA held a press conference in the Charles Lynch Room on Parliament Hill. This presentation was an opportunity to spread awareness of the industry’s current concerns and provided information about CHFA’s awareness day.
 |
| CHFA Acting President, Helen Sherrard, addresses the room. |
CHFA’s 10-minute appearance was broadcast live throughout each MP and Senator office and was viewed by Press Gallery bureaus. A media advisory was sent out to every media outlet in Canada prior to the presentation. A press release detailing the event was subsequently distributed as well.
Luncheon with Dr. Colin Carrie, MP Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health
 |
| CHFA Board Member, Matt Breech, and Dr. Colin Carrie, MP |
The delegates were joined by Dr. Colin Carrie, MP for Oshawa and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health for lunch in the Parliamentary Dining Room. It was an opportunity for the delegates to have a frank discussion with Dr. Carrie about the industry’s issues.
MP Meetings
During the day, CHFA delegates met with key players and members of the Health, Agriculture, Finance and Industry committees from every political party and various provinces.
Conclusion
CHFA would like to acknowledge the support of its members, without whom this event would not have been possible.
CHFA wants to thank the following individuals who participated in the 2010 Awareness Day:
| Michael Bentley |
SierraSil Health Inc |
| Stewart Brown |
Genuine Health Inc. |
| Donna Herringer |
Profile Communications |
| David J.P. Mullins |
Stirling Products Canada |
| Nick Mawani |
Go Natural Health and Nutrition Centre |
| Richard Pollock |
Vitascorb Supplements Inc. |
| Franco Salituro |
CanPrev Natural Health Products Ltd. |
| Matt Breech |
TallGrass Distribution Ltd. |
| Matthew James |
SunOpta Inc. |