Comment Period Extended for Natural Health Fees

Summary#

The Department of Health extended the public comment period on its proposed fees for natural health products. The comment window is now from May 12 to August 10, 2023, giving stakeholders more time to send feedback.

What it does#

• Extends the deadline for public comments on the proposed fees for natural health products to August 10, 2023 (the comment period now runs from May 12 to August 10, 2023).
• Points people back to the original notice published in Canada Gazette, Part I on May 13, 2023 for details of the proposal.
• Says comments should be submitted through the consultation’s online comment form and that the Department of Health will consider all comments before finalizing the proposal.

Who's affected#

• Stakeholders who want to comment on the fee proposal, including natural health product manufacturers, importers, retailers, and industry associations.
• Consumer and health advocacy groups that follow or would be affected by changes to fees.
• Anyone else who intended to respond but needed more time.
• It is not stated whether any other groups (for example, small businesses or Indigenous organizations) are specifically targeted.

Why it matters#

• More time to comment means more people and organizations can weigh in on the fee proposal.
• Those comments could influence the final fees, which in turn could affect costs for companies that make or sell natural health products — and possibly the prices consumers pay.
• This is an administrative step to allow greater public engagement; it does not itself set the fees.