Proposed Legislation for the Regulation of Food, Health and Consumer Products in Canada

In December 2007, the Canadian government unveiled "Canada's Food and Consumer Safety Action Plan" (the action plan), which contained initiatives to modernize the regulatory process for food, health and consumer products. Specifically, the action plan called for improvements in prevention, oversight and response to problems with food, health and consumer products that pose dangers to the health and safety of Canadians. On 8 April 2008, two bills were tabled in Parliament: Bill C-51, An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts,¹ and Bill C-52, An Act respecting the safety of consumer products.² The proposed legislation aims to modernize the Food and Drugs Act and carry out the mandate of the action plan by: