Thank you for the question.
First, we tried to find out exactly where those statistics came from, but we were not really able to get that information.
Second, even when I was CEO of Bioforce Canada, we asked a number of times, as did the Canadian Natural Products Association, for the criteria or standards so that we could prepare for those inspections. We were never given any standards or any details about what they were going to come in and inspect.
It should be noted that a number of things are still very vague and subject to interpretation. At Bioforce, our regulatory officer even asked Health Canada several times to clarify certain aspects, and we never got an answer. When we say that 42% of businesses did not comply, what exactly did they have to comply with? If you don't know the rules you have to comply with, it's very difficult to do so. Companies that produce prescription drugs, for example, have very clear and specific criteria, and they know very well what to expect in an inspection. We don't.
Mr. Skelton mentioned the 53 recommendations made in 1998. That was long ago. We've been asking for these criteria for a long time. Those of us who follow all the rules and who already pay a lot of taxes are in favour of inspections and good regulations. We're not against inspections. What we are asking is that the authorities work with us, as they have done in the past, to come up with regulations that are good for the Canadian consumer but also allow us to stay in business.