The last part of paragraph (f.02) is clear: “…or of the regulations made under paragraph (f.01)”. That would enable the government to determine appropriate penalties.
We currently want to maintain the existing provisions until the government makes new regulations. It seems to me that a consultation process should be required in order to establish new regulations, but no one has been consulted to date. The government proceeded in secret, without being transparent. It tabled Bill C-47, and fines of up to $5 million were suddenly imposed on industry people.
For the moment, no one has demonstrated that the industry was as recalcitrant as was said. The Auditor General's report made it clear that Health Canada was unable to perform its duty to inspect. I imagine Health Canada would be in a better position to do so in the context of the discussions on the cost recovery regulations.
Amendment BQ-3 would clearly make it possible to proceed with consultations for the purpose of developing appropriate regulations for natural health products. That requires discipline, of course. Fines of $5,000 may not be enough.
The amendment clearly states: “…within the meaning of the Natural Health Products Regulations or of the regulations made under paragraph (f.01)”.
Fines may be applicable in the meantime, but they would be the fines provided for under the natural health products regulations currently in force.