In Canada we are witnessing the total raping of our health freedoms. We now have the consumer product safety act (Bill C-36) as a law. Which does not effect Natural Health Products itself, but it opens the door to allow the Canadian government to adopt foreign laws and foreign trading block's regulations on basically all products (including NHP's), without parliamentary scrutiny.

Health Canada is using unrealistic licensing standards on NHP's. For example, parsley in capsule form was not given it’s NPN because the manufacturer could not provide safety studies. Parsley is a herb that has been used for thousands of years. Think about it! When was the last time your heard of someone dieing from parsley (fresh or in a capsule)? Over 20,000 NHP's since 2004 have been not been licensed, because of absurdity like this!

But at the same time Health Canada is loosening the regulations on pharmaceuticals.

Here is a clip from a recent article I read from the Ottawa Citizen.

"What kind of "modernizations" should we expect to emerge from Health Canada's artfully stage-managed "technical consultations"? First and perhaps most important could be a shift of the burden of proof. The "precautionary principle" would be scrapped if drug companies had their way. So, instead of the drug industry having to prove that its products are (comparatively) safe before they can be licensed, new products would be presumed to be safe unless critics can prove that they are more harmful than beneficial."
Source

That's right you do not get to choose what you put into your body Canadians! NHP manufactures must prove that herbs that have been in use for hundreds if not thousands of years are safe. But big pharma companies do not have to prove the safety of their synthetic products. Oh no a critic must prove that they are not safe, AFTER they have been given out to who knows how many Canadian people.

This is only the tip of a very large iceberg in Canada. But it is not only happening here.

In America Bill S510 (HR 2751) has passed. All of the provisions, restrictions and requirements of this law, would apply to small farmers and small food producers (think farmer’s market, fruit, veggies, jam, pie, nuts, eggs, and yes herbs). Simply cutting off the herb production of the country.

Many of you have probably heard about the European Union Banning many Chinese and Indian Herbs. The AHN has been standing up against this mandate. Here is what they have to say about it:

"The date—ironically April Fool’s Day 2011—represents one day after the end of the transition phase of the EU Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive (THMPD). The THMPD exists as a sub-Directive of the Human Medicinal Products Directive, and was originally intended to be a fast-track licensing system for a wide variety of traditional herbal products, including those of non-European origin. These include the super-traditions of Ayurveda, associated with the Indian subcontinent and that of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Both are of more than 4,000 years standing. The directive was originally implemented in 2004, but the lengthy 7-year transition period has lulled many into thinking that the April 2011 date marks the implementation of a new directive. This is not the case."

"What are the facts about THMPD?

* 31st March 2011 marks the end of the 7-year transition phase of the THMPD
* The directive requires that the same type of pharmaceutical standards applied to conventional, synthetic drugs are applied to complex, polyherbal products
* A range of eligibility and technical problems, along with prohibitive costs, have, so far, prevented any products from either the Chinese or Indian traditions from successfully being registered under the scheme"

Source

This shows that in Canada, America, and in the European Union the attack on NHP's is kicking into gear. Not by flat out banning them. Because it is well known that, an action like that would not be tolerated by the people. So the tactic seems to be the slow and methodical elimination of these products, through licensing regulations.

Testing and proving the safety of NHP's apparently can cost upwards of US $100,000.
For small to medium sized manufacturers this is devastating! But to the large companies it is tolerable. Unfortunately the large companies seem to be the ones complying with big pharma. By using genetically modified ingredients, and other synthetics produced in the pharmaceutical industry.

The small guys in our communities are being "licensed" out of business, because they refuse to comply. They refuse to keel over in the presence of big pharma.

They have looked out for us, and our health for a long time now. It is time that we return the favor! We now need to not comply right along with them! DO NOT buy from the major NHP companies. Instead look for the smaller, and more local products.

It is estimated that over 10,000 Canadians die every year from pharmaceuticals. Do you think the number of deaths caused by NHP's comes anywhere even close to that?

We are the gears of this machine, and we decide when it stops!

MONTREAL -- The union representing customs agents says the new decision by the Canada Border Services Agency to curtail its involvement in assisting other police forces across the country raises safety issues.

The CSBA announced the move on Dec. 24, citing a budget crunch and concerns over "gaps in officers' authorities and protections."

But a vice president for the Customs and Immigration Union said that means fewer raids, fewer seizures and less safety.

"There will be an immediate impact on security," Jean-Pierre Fortin said Sunday.

Source

This seems to be totally against what Vic Toews the Canadian Minister of public safety has been pushing for the last year. And what about keeping us Canadians safe from all those scary terrorists? Why such a sudden change? Why now?

Well I do not think that this is unrelated to the "New North American Security Perimeter", that has been reported to be announced in the next month or so.

In the New North American Security Perimeter (precursor to the North American Union)it is said that The Americans do not trust the Canadians to protect the Northern area of North America. Also that they will utilize biometric data for travelers at airports and land crossings. These two possibilities will render the Canadian customs agents, well rather useless. The Americans do not trust them and want the department of homeland security to be keeping us Canadians safe.

But I know this is only a deal with the United States right? Nothing to do with a North American Union, because Mexico is not involved.

They tried to just push forward with all three parties openly (I use that term very loosely), and the people saw it for what it was while it was called the SSP.

Now a different tactic is being used. The Americans have already signed an almost identical agreement with Mexico.

"The U.S. announced a similar deal with Mexico in March. It included moves to expedite travel and commerce such as secure transit lanes for pre-cleared rail and truck shipments, as well as passenger pre-clearance for individuals." Source

These agreement are exactly what the SSP was. Just with different packaging. All three governments can say, We have not signed into the North American Union. We have only signed a deal with one of our neighboring countries, not both of them. Meanwhile they are or have already signed on to the exact same agreement with the other parties involved.

It is all a slight of the hand trick, and we need to see it for what it is! We are running out of time, very quickly!