As a professional medical researcher, I have
been attempting to make some sense of the activities of the Health
Protection Branch (HPB) lately.
To understand why the HPB is making sweeping changes in the natural
health product industry, I’m inclined to introduce you to CODEX, other
wise known as the World Health Organization (WHO). That’s right, WHO.
WHO has a connection with CODEX and the HPB. They are officially known
as the United Nations/World Health Organization/CODEX Alimentarius
(Nutrition Code) Commission. This Commission meets every two years with
stakeholders in the industry.
By virtue of the fact that the natural health product industry and the
public do not have representation at CODEX meetings, CODEX can be
considered the largest threat to our health choices in today’s modern
world. Why? Simply because CODEX has unilateral capability and biased
authority to control the standards for the health industry and its
products.
The media has also been shielded from the truth behind this secretive
group because they prefer their actions to be kept secret. For example,
Bill C-7 (C-8 in Canada) was passed using secret wording that the public
was not privy to.
Why the deflection of disclosure? Could it not be CODEX and the HPB are
not forth coming with the truth about their activities because they
stand to gain substantial financial considerations when the NHP market
prices skyrocket. After all, they would be the absolute regulatory body!
Just what is the Codex’s role in the NHP industry? They claim to “guide
and protect” the foods industry. While traditionally all natural health
products (NHPs) would fall under the foods category unless they make a
health claim, CODEX intent is to change NHPs to the status of ‘drug”
thus the reasoning as to why many consumers and other stakeholders
continue to be confused as to whether a natural health product is a food
or a drug.
Consider this. Do CODEX and the giant pharmaceutical backed companies
have our best interest in mind when they make a statement like “no herbal
products, minerals or vitamins can be sold for preventative
purposes"?
Isn’t that the purpose of such products? Hasn’t the health industry
branded their products into the consumers mind with the statement ‘an
ounce of prevention was worth a pound of cure’?
If this Commission has their final say, natural heath products could be
sold but only as a "food item" and with limited medicinal ingredients.
In fact the dosages would be severely reduced and sold at grossly
elevated prices. Where’s the prevention?
Can you imagine Vitamin E with only 15mg and Vitamin C with only 60 mg
at a cost of $50.00? It’s already happening in Germany where an amino
acid that once sold for $20 now sells for $120.00. Dosages that exceed
these standards would be classified as drugs and therefore illegal to
sell.
If you don’t think the CODEX can be enforced, guess again. Any country
that does not accept these enforced standards would unfortunately be
subject to severe fines by the World Trade Organization.
To learn more about the proposed NHP regulations and the Phase-In
Transitional periods you can visit
www.medicalbotanyresearch.com
Disclaimer:
This article in no way should be taken as “medical
advice” on any product, condition or course of action, nor
does it constitute in any way “medical advice” endorsing
any specific product, specific result, nor any possible cure
for any condition or problem. This article is meant as a
source of information upon which you may base your decision as
to whether or not you should begin using any vitamin, mineral
and/or herbal supplement for better health, or begin using a
“greens” product as a dietary supplement.
If in doubt, or if you have questions, you should consult your
physician and, if possible, consult a second physician for a
possible different opinion. The author does not bear any
responsibility for your decisions nor for the outcome of your
actions based upon those decisions.
