How to Submit a Consumer Complaint or

Report a Suspected Adverse Reaction

You are strongly encouraged to contact your local Chapter, the National Office of the CCA, Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency with any complaints or concerns you may have about ingredients, labeling, misrepresentation and/or gluten contamination of food, prescription and over-the counter drugs, health products including vitamins, herbal remedies, supplements and medical devices.

1. How to Submit a Consumer Complaint About Food

Not satisfied with the reassurances you receive from manufacturers (on the product label, via email or over the phone) regarding the gluten free status of a food item or ingredient(s) thereof?

Does the claim by a manufacturer(s) (on the product label, via email or over the phone) regarding the gluten free status of a food item, or ingredient(s) thereof not conform to your understanding of the gluten free guidelines as set out by the CCA?

Have you experienced what you think is gluten contamination from ingesting a food item, or ingredient(s) thereof, labeled or otherwise purported to be gluten free?

Do you have concerns regarding the labeling or representation of a food item or ingredient(s) thereof as being gluten-free when it may not be?

Vancouver Island or the Gulf Islands

Claire Sharpe: labeling and claims issues (250) 363-3455
Lauren Jung:  for food safety issues (250) 363-3455

Canada

Toll-free general inquiries line 1-800-442-2342 to find the nearest CFIA office.

Web Comments and Feedback Form

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/tools/feedback/commene.shtml

2. How to Submit a Consumer Complaint about a Drug or a Health Product

Includes prescription and over-the counter drugs, vitamins, herbal remedies and supplements and medical devices.

You are encouraged to call Health Canada, Drug Compliance Verification and Investigation Unit at (613) 952-9906 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). 

For guidance and additional contact information please refer to How to Submit a Consumer Complaint available at:

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/compli-conform/prob-report-rapport/gui_44_consumer_consommateur_cp-pc_e.html


3. How to Report a Suspected Adverse Reaction about a Drug or a Health Product

Includes prescription and over-the counter drugs, vitamins, herbal remedies and supplements.

What is the Canada Vigilance Program?*

The Canada Vigilance Program is Health Canada’s post-market surveillance program that collects and assesses reports of suspected adverse reactions to health products marketed in Canada. Post-market surveillance enables Health Canada to monitor the safety profile of health products once they are marketed to ensure that the benefits of the products continue to outweigh the risks.
The Canada Vigilance Program collects adverse reaction reports for the following health products marketed in Canada: prescription and non-prescription medications, biologics (including fractionated blood products as well as therapeutic and diagnostic vaccines), natural health products, radiopharmaceuticals, and cells, tissues and organs.  Canada Vigilance is a program of MedEffect TM Canada.

Why report

All health products have benefits and risks.  Although health products are carefully tested before they are licensed for sale in Canada, some adverse reactions may become evident only after a product is in use by the general population.

When you report an adverse reaction to the Canada Vigilance Program, the information from your report, along with other information, is used to check for new safety concerns about a product.

What to report

You do not have to be certain that a health product caused the reaction in order to report it. Adverse reaction reports are, for the most part, only suspected associations. Health Canada wants to know about adverse reactions, especially if they:

* interfere with everyday activities;
* are not mentioned in the information supplied with the health product.

When reporting an adverse reaction, your pharmacist or other health professional can provide valuable information that will help you complete your report.

How to report

There are three easy ways to report an adverse reaction to the Canada Vigilance Program.

1. Report online at http://www.healthcanada.gc.ca/medeffect

2. Complete a Canada Vigilance Reporting Form and mail postage paid or send by   toll-free fax to 1-866-678-6789.
The form and postage paid label are available at http://www.healthcanada.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 1-866-234-2345.

3.  Report by toll-free phone to the Canada Vigilance Program at 1-866-234-2345.

When you submit an adverse reaction report, you are contributing to the ongoing collection of information that occurs once health products are on the market.


*Prepared with the assistance of Lauren Jung & Claire Sharpe, Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Lance Hill & Dr. Thanh Vu, Health Canada.