Thank you, Mr. Chair.
To better understand the change proposed by amendment BQ-3, see paragraph 30(1.2)(f) on page 40 of the Food and Drugs Act.
Additionally, to provide some clear context, I'm going to read subsection 30(1.2), which appears under the heading “Regulations — therapeutic products”.
30(1.2) Without limiting the power conferred by any other subsection of this section, the Governor in Council may make regulations
Now going back to amendment BQ-3, I move that Bill C-368 be amended by adding after line 13 on page 1 the following new clause:
3.1 Subsection 30(1.2) of the Act is amended by adding the following after paragraph (f): (f.01) respecting the recall of natural health products within the meaning of the Natural Health Products Regulations; (f.02) prescribing penalties for the contravention of subsection 21.3(3) in respect of a natural health product within the meaning of the Natural Health Products Regulations or of the regulations made under paragraph (f.01);
The industry and Health Canada people will have to discuss this amendment before the fines are determined. We will have to do things properly. As I've said from the outset, the fines imposed must be proportionate to the offences committed within the industry. We've discussed this at length and observed that the fines are disproportionate, which, incidentally, is why Bill C-368 was proposed.
Amendment BQ-3 would therefore make it possible to put regulations in place, and the current provisions would apply in the meantime.