Lara Tiro’s Post

Canadian Health Food Association (CHFA) Regulatory Forum in Ottawa last week focused on Natural Health Products (NHPs). My career started in and continues to be shaped by the food regulatory space. Regulatory professionals benefit from understanding the broader framework around us, not just the categories we work in. I left thinking: more food regulatory professionals should be in rooms like this. Whether we are talking about food, NHPs, supplements, personal care, or another regulated category, the bigger conversation applies: How do we build regulatory frameworks that protect Canadians, support innovation, and remain workable for the businesses expected to comply? Regulation needs to be proportionate, risk-based, and operationally realistic. A few NHP-related takeaways that stuck with me: 1️⃣ The 90-day personal importation pathway needs attention. When foreign companies can reach Canadian consumers outside of the same domestic regulatory framework, it creates risk. Risk of an uneven playing field. Risk of non-compliant foreign sellers operating with limited oversight. Risk of undermining the businesses that are investing in doing things properly. 2️⃣ The “Battle of the Labels” continues. The updated NHP labelling framework is currently on pause, creating an important window for continued engagement, refinement and practical implementation. 3️⃣ Evidence-based advocacy matters. Parliamentary engagement works when we (industry and associations) show up with data. Operational impact, economic impact, competitiveness, timelines, cost, access. It all matters. 4️⃣ Lastly and most importantly, Collaboration The Forum brought multiple perspectives into the same room. Industry, regulatory professionals, policymakers. Health Canada attended, listened, and engaged with feedback. We have come a long way since the Save Our Supplements campaign, and the level of organization, data, and advocacy in the room showed that. This is what Advocacy looks like at its best: people with different roles working toward the same outcome, the health and safety of Canadians. We can do more. And we should constantly try to do better. My takeaway for Canadian companies in regulated industries: -Regulatory engagement should not be treated as optional. -Join an association. -Budget for your regulatory professionals to attend events like this -Support evidence gathering. -Show up before decisions are finalized. If we want Canadian brands to keep growing successfully, both at home and globally, we need regulatory systems that are proportionate, risk-based, and workable in practice. When regulation is designed well, it protects Canadians, supports trust, restores transparency, and allows responsible companies to innovate, compete and to build globally successful brands.