Further to our previous update regarding our June meeting with Health Minister Duclos, the promised joint industry/Health Canada working group to develop a workable solution to the China GMP certificate issue has now been established and held its first meeting on July 26th.
The joint committee was proposed by the Minister to find a workable solution to China’s requirement for a “government issued” GMP certificate to allow for the exemption of imported “non-special” cosmetics to China’s animal testing requirements. It is estimated that over $350 million of cosmetics manufactured in Canada are exported to China annually. Exporters are currently relying on “GMP certificates” being temporarily issued by provincial governments in Quebec and Ontario but a permanent federal solution is required.
The working group is being chaired by Director-General Dennis Price of Health Canada and CA President Darren Praznik. Members include relevant Health Canada officials, technical experts from several of our CA member manufacturers and CA staff, as well as representatives from Global Affairs Canada and the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME).
The tone for the working group was set by Assistant Deputy Minister Matthew Jones who provided opening remarks and indicated that it is Health Canada’s goal to find a workable solution that will support Canadian exporters, as mandated by the Minister, and that the work should be completed on a fairly short time frame given its importance. Once a workable solution is worked out, Health Canada can then proceed to set up an administrative process to implement the solution. Following the ADM’s remarks, the working group received an update from Global Affairs Canada which confirmed the situation with China and the need for a federally issued certificate. CA also provided a briefing on the precedent for Health Canada acting outside of its domestic mandate which occurred during the BSE or “mad cow” situation in the early 2000’s when Health Canada authorized the creation of BSE certificates certifying that cosmetics exported to China did not contain bovine based ingredients/substances.
The working group then focused on identifying a list of the risks which Health Canada perceives or has identified in its issuing of such certificates, and how they can be addressed or minimized. They will be putting this together over the next few weeks and the working group will be meeting again in early August to address these risks and find solutions where required. CA will keep members apprised of developments and the progress of the working group.
Details regarding the issue and what was discussed at the Industry Roundtable can be found HERE.
