The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) this week submitted comments to Health Canada’s Veterinary Drugs Directorate (VDD) on the definition of a Veterinary Natural Health Product (vNHP).

The comments were presented to Health Canada by AHPA Animal Products Committee Chair Greg Tilford (Animal Essentials) who represents AHPA on the VDD’s Expert Advisory Committee on Veterinary Natural Health Products (EAC-vNHP). The committee is advising the directorate in the development of a regulatory scheme for vNHPs in Canada.

“AHPA is grateful for the opportunity to work with Health Canada in this exciting and open process of developing a regulatory framework for vNHPs,” said AHPA President Michael McGuffin. “We look forward to continuing to contribute our expertise to the directorate and working with them to create an exemplary regulatory scheme for this growing class of goods.”

AHPA’s comments focus on refining VDD’s definition of an extract, and AHPA provided VDD with its “Guidance for the Manufacture and Sale of Bulk Botanical Extracts” in addition to the comments. AHPA’s comments are available online here: http://www.ahpa.org/portals/0/pdfs/09_0407_AHPA%20Comments_Health_Canada_vNHP_Definitions.pdf, and the guidance document is available in the association’s bookstore: http://www.ahpa.org/Default.aspx?tabid=68#guidancedocuments.

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) is the only national trade association devoted to herbal issues. Representing the core of the botanical trade—comprised of the finest growers, processors, manufacturers and marketers of herbal products—our mission is to promote the responsible commerce of herbal products. AHPA committees generate self-regulations to ensure the highest level of quality with respect to the way herbal products are manufactured, labeled, and sold. Website: www.ahpa.org.