

Currently released so far... 12900 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/08
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
2011/05/13
2011/05/14
2011/05/15
2011/05/16
2011/05/17
2011/05/18
2011/05/19
2011/05/20
2011/05/21
2011/05/22
2011/05/23
2011/05/24
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Consulate Karachi
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AE
ASEC
AS
AR
AMGT
AFIN
AORC
AU
AG
AF
APER
ABLD
ADCO
ABUD
AM
AID
AJ
AEMR
AMED
AL
ASUP
AN
AIT
ACOA
ANET
ASIG
AA
AGMT
AINF
AFFAIRS
ADANA
AY
AADP
ARF
ACS
AGR
AMCHAMS
AECL
AUC
APEC
APECO
AFGHANISTAN
ACAO
ASEAN
ADM
AGAO
AND
ADPM
ATRN
ALOW
AROC
APCS
AORG
AO
AODE
ACABQ
AX
AMEX
AZ
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
ACBAQ
AFSI
AFSN
AC
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
ASCH
AFU
AMG
ATPDEA
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AORL
BR
BO
BA
BM
BL
BH
BK
BEXP
BILAT
BTIO
BF
BU
BD
BY
BE
BG
BB
BBSR
BT
BRUSSELS
BP
BX
BC
BIDEN
BMGT
BWC
BN
BTIU
CA
CS
CO
CD
CR
CPAS
CDG
CI
CDC
CBW
CU
CVIS
CE
CONS
CH
CMGT
CASC
CY
CW
CG
CJAN
CIDA
CODEL
CWC
CIA
CBSA
CEUDA
CFED
CLINTON
CAC
CL
CACS
CIC
CHR
CAPC
CM
CT
CTR
COM
CROS
CN
COPUOS
CV
CF
CARSON
CONDOLEEZZA
CICTE
CYPRUS
COUNTER
COUNTRY
CBE
CKGR
CVR
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITEL
CLEARANCE
COE
CARICOM
CB
CSW
CITT
CACM
CDB
CJUS
CTM
CAN
CLMT
CBC
CNARC
CIS
EFIN
ECON
ETRD
EAID
EC
EU
EUN
EINV
EG
ETTC
EIND
ELAB
EAGR
ECIN
EINT
ENRG
EFIS
ELTN
EAIR
EPET
EZ
ET
ENERG
ECPS
EWWT
EI
ETRN
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
ER
ES
EN
EMIN
ESENV
ENNP
ENGR
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENVI
ECINECONCS
ELN
EFTA
ELECTIONS
ENVR
EXTERNAL
ENIV
ESA
EPA
ETRO
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUR
ECUN
EXIM
EK
EUREM
ECONOMY
EUMEM
ERNG
EFINECONCS
EAIDS
ECA
ETRC
EINVEFIN
ETC
EAP
EINN
ECONOMIC
EXBS
ENGY
ECONOMICS
EIAR
EINDETRD
ECONEFIN
EURN
EDU
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ECIP
EFIM
EREL
EINVETC
ECONCS
ETRA
EAIG
EUC
ERD
IQ
IR
IS
IN
IA
IC
IZ
ICRC
ID
IDA
IT
IO
IAEA
ICJ
ICAO
IV
IBRD
IMF
IAHRC
IWC
ILO
ISLAMISTS
IGAD
ILC
ITU
ITF
INRA
INRO
ICTY
INRB
ITALY
IBET
IL
INTELSAT
ISRAELI
IMO
IDP
ICTR
ITRA
IRC
IRAQI
IEFIN
IPR
IIP
INMARSAT
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
INTERNAL
IRS
INTERPOL
IEA
INR
ISRAEL
IZPREL
IRAJ
IF
ITPHUM
IACI
INDO
KPAO
KMDR
KCOR
KNNP
KJUS
KCRM
KDEM
KVPR
KTFN
KPRP
KTIP
KSCA
KSUM
KTEX
KIDE
KIRF
KV
KTIA
KN
KG
KFRD
KWMN
KUNR
KISL
KU
KGHG
KPKO
KOMS
KPAL
KIPR
KMCA
KOMC
KRVC
KSEP
KAWC
KOLY
KWBG
KACT
KFLO
KHIV
KZ
KGIC
KBCT
KDRG
KBTR
KCFE
KE
KHLS
KMPI
KAWK
KPWR
KIRC
KRAD
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFLU
KPLS
KRIM
KSTH
KDDG
KPRV
KICC
KS
KSAF
KBIO
KREC
KCGC
KCIP
KTDB
KWAC
KPAI
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFSC
KSTC
KMFO
KID
KNAR
KMIG
KVRP
KNEI
KGIT
KNSD
KHDP
KSAC
KWMM
KR
KCOM
KAID
KENV
KVIR
KHSA
KO
KCRS
KPOA
KTER
KFIN
KSPR
KTBT
KX
KCMR
KMOC
KCRCM
KBTS
KSEO
KOCI
KNUP
KPAONZ
KNUC
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KSCI
KTLA
KCSY
KTRD
KMRS
KNPP
KJUST
KRCM
KCFC
KCHG
KREL
KFTFN
KLIG
KDEMAF
KGCC
KICA
KHUM
KSEC
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KPIR
KWWMN
KOM
KWNM
KRFD
KRGY
KIFR
KWMNCS
KPAK
MARR
MOPS
MUCN
MCAP
MNUC
MEPP
MTCRE
MASS
MO
MIL
MX
MAS
MEDIA
MAR
MI
MQADHAFI
MPOS
MTCR
MK
MG
MA
MY
MU
ML
MPS
MW
MD
MARAD
MC
MR
MT
MTRE
MASC
MRCRE
MAPP
MZ
MP
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MEPN
MEPI
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MCC
MIK
MAPS
MV
MILITARY
MDC
MASSMNUC
NI
NZ
NL
NO
NPT
NATO
NS
NU
NP
NPA
NSFO
NDP
NT
NW
NASA
NSG
NE
NORAD
NAFTA
NG
NATIONAL
NSSP
NV
NSF
NK
NA
NEW
NPG
NR
NGO
NIPP
NZUS
NH
NC
NRR
NAR
NATOPREL
NSC
OIIP
OPRC
OTRA
OEXC
OREP
OSCE
OVIP
OPAD
OBSP
OECD
OFFICIALS
OAS
OPDC
ODIP
OPCW
OES
OFDP
OPIC
OCS
OIC
OHUM
OSCI
OVP
ODC
OIE
OTR
OMIG
OSAC
OFDA
ON
OCII
PREL
PINR
PGOV
PARM
PE
PTER
PHUM
PO
PINS
PREF
PK
PM
POL
PBTS
PNAT
PHSA
PAS
PA
PL
PGIV
PHUMPREL
POGOV
PAK
PEL
PROP
PP
PINL
PBT
PTBS
PG
PINF
PRL
PALESTINIAN
PSEPC
POSTS
PAHO
PHUMPGOV
PGOC
PNR
PREFA
PMIL
POLITICS
POLICY
PROV
PBIO
PREO
PAO
PDOV
PGOF
POV
PCI
PRAM
PSI
POLITICAL
PAIGH
PJUS
PARMS
PROG
PTERE
PRGOV
PORG
PS
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PNG
PFOR
PUNE
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
POLINT
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PDEM
PECON
PY
PLN
PHUH
PF
PHUS
PU
PARTIES
PCUL
PGGV
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
RU
RS
REGION
REACTION
REPORT
RO
RW
RCMP
RSO
RP
RM
ROOD
RFE
RICE
ROBERT
RSP
RF
RELATIONS
RIGHTS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
RUPREL
SENV
SY
SNAR
SCUL
SP
SF
SW
SOCI
SU
SMIG
SO
SA
SR
SZ
SI
SC
SEVN
SN
STEINBERG
SK
SH
SNARCS
SPCE
SARS
SNARN
SG
SL
SYRIA
SIPRS
SAARC
SNARIZ
SWE
SYR
SEN
SCRS
SAN
ST
SIPDIS
SSA
SPCVIS
SOFA
SENVKGHG
SANC
SHI
SHUM
TU
TSPA
TBIO
TS
TRGY
TINT
TPHY
TN
TW
TH
TZ
TSPL
TP
TBID
TI
TF
TD
TT
TNGD
TL
TC
THPY
TIP
TX
TV
TK
TERRORISM
TO
TRSY
TURKEY
TFIN
TAGS
TR
UK
UNSC
UNGA
UNESCO
UNHRC
UP
UN
USTR
US
UNDC
UY
UNICEF
UNDP
UNMIK
UNAUS
UNCHC
UNCSD
USOAS
UNFCYP
UG
UNIDROIT
UNO
UV
UNHCR
UNEP
USEU
UZ
UNCND
USUN
UNCHR
USNC
USPS
USAID
UE
UNVIE
UAE
UNODC
UNCHS
UNFICYP
UNDESCO
UNC
UNPUOS
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 04QUEBEC12, FDA INTERNET PHARMACY MEETINGS IN QUEBEC CITY
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #04QUEBEC12.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
04QUEBEC12 | 2004-01-20 18:07 | 2011-04-28 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Consulate Quebec |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
201807Z Jan 04
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 QUEBEC 000012
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
OTTAWA FOR ECON GALLEGHER
STATE FOR WHA/CAN EWHEELER, EB/IPC SWILSON, EB/TPP/BTA/EWH DSHEEHAN
STATE PASS HSS PLAISIER AND MCGINNIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD CA FDA
SUBJECT: FDA INTERNET PHARMACY MEETINGS IN QUEBEC CITY
¶1. Summary: FDA representatives met with Quebec officials
January 12 to discuss the internet pharmacy trade and other
issues related to an upcoming meeting between FDA Commissioner
McClellan and Premier Charest in Davos. In his meeting with
Commissioner McClellan, Premier Charest is likely to ask when
the U.S. will implement the rest of legislation on U.S.
pharmaceutical imports. Despite differences in federal and
provincial systems, the Health Canada representative present
offered Ottawa's full support to Quebec on cross-border
enforcement investigations relating to provincial regulations.
Health Canada is moving forward with unannounced compliance
inspections on internet sites starting in February to examine
how regulations were being applied to these sites. End Summary
¶2. FDA Assistant Commissioner for International Programs
Melinda Plaisier and Director of Pharmacy Affairs Thomas
McGinnis had two meetings on January 19 to discuss the internet
pharmacy trade in Quebec. The first was with provincial
officials; the second with provincial pharmacy regulators, and a
Health Canada representative. The genesis of the meetings was a
request by Premier Charest to meet with Commissioner McClellan
in Davos January 23 to discuss the pharmacy issue, and concerns
about the impact of new U.S. bioterrorism regulations relating
to cross-border trade. FDA indicated that Commissioner
McClellan might also raise potential GMO labeling legislation in
Quebec.
--------------------------------------------- --------------
----------
QUEBEC REGULATING INTERNET PHARMACIES
--------------------------------------------- --------------
----------
¶3. The President of the Quebec Order of Pharmacists (OQP)
Jean-Yves Julien and the Director of Investigations Jocelyn
Binet, representing the regulatory side of Quebec's
pharmaceutical industry, stressed the strict enforcement and
control regime on internet pharmacies in Quebec. Only about 4
% of the orders placed with Canadian internet pharmacies are
received in Quebec. Quebec is the only jurisdiction in North
America where one must be a registered pharmacist to own a
pharmacy, thereby affording strong legal remedies for violators.
He reported that no pharmacists in Quebec own internet sites
inside the province. In any case, OQP would oppose internet
pharmacies because they would not meet their professional
standards. Currently three internet sites in the Montreal area
are being sued, by the OQP, for selling medication abroad.
¶4. Prescriptions signed by U.S. physicians are not valid in
Quebec. Internet pharmacy businesses look for Canadian-licensed
doctors to co-sign or rewrite them without a consultation -- an
unethical practice, said Julien. Based on the Quebec code of
ethics, physicians and pharmacists must have face-to-face
contact with the patient or can be sued by the disciplinary
committee. Julien said, moreover, that his pharmacists are no
longer accepting a co-signature by a Canadian doctor at face
value.
¶5. As the head of Quebec's pharmaceutical licensing body, Julien
underscored that pharmacists were not mere vendors or
distributors of drugs, but provided a professional service, a
dimension that he felt was too often neglected in the internet
pharmacy debate. The OQP is taking a very comprehensive look at
the safety and quality of the cross-border drug trade, with a
particular emphasis on services such as the appropriateness of
medications. Quebec passed new legislation last year, Bill 90,
that allows pharmacists to adjust prescriptions made by
physicians and request follow up procedures such as blood tests.
Pharmacists maintain the security of drugs and services and can
be sued for practices against the public interest. At this
time, at least one person is being sued personally for "illegal
exercise of a profession." The case is pending a decision by a
Superior Court judge. Julien also noted, in passing, that
direct advertising by drug firms to consumers is prohibited in
Quebec, making it easier for physicians to prescribe less
expensive drugs.
¶6. Chief investigator Binet told the FDA officials that the
OQP, the federal RCMP, and DEA officials based in the state of
Vermont have been working closely together on a number of cases.
He said that cross-border enforcement is extremely difficult
because of the complexity of getting Canadian law enforcement
officials across the U.S./Canada border. Cross-border travel in
the OQP investigations were facilitated only by virtue of
personal contacts within U.S. law enforcement, which insured
that a briefed-inspector was on the border when needed. The FDA
visitors offered to assist in facilitating entry into the U.S.
of an investigator, should the case arise again.
--------------------------------------------- ------------
LONGER TERM REPERCUSSIONS
---------------------------- -----------------------------
¶7. Representatives of two Quebec ministries, Laval Poulin,
Director of Intergovernmental Affairs at the Ministry of
Agriculture, and Richard St Cyr of the Ministry of Economic
Development, expressed concern about the potential impact on the
local health care situation because heightened demand for
prescription drugs from the U.S. In his meeting with
Commissioner McClellan, Premier Charest is likely to ask when
the U.S. will implement the rest of legislation on U.S.
pharmaceutical imports. Quebec is concerned that one impact
could be pressure to increase prices of drugs for the province's
universal medical plan.
¶8. FDA's Plaisier pointed to the exponential growth of the
international cyber drug trade over the last decade. While it
is an issue in several countries, recently the spotlight has
fallen on Canada. Pressure in the U.S. to provide access to
less expensive prescription drugs may give rise to new
legislation in Congress. FDA has been mandated to report back
to Congress by December on how to bridge the gap between the
U.S. and Canadian systems, said McGinnis. There are real
concerns about transshipments, drug subpotency and quality.
Counterfeiting is a huge concern. Drugs subject to a recall can
be swapped out and redistributed with a date change. Since last
summer, a number of controlled substances have begun to flow
into the country, i.e. codeine, valium, and ephedrine (diet
pills). Some of this is originating for the first time from
Canada. The Quebec side said they saw no trend toward
controlled drug exports from the province: pharmacists report
cross border visitors were buying largely medications for blood
pressure control, cholesterol, and erectile problems).
-------------------------
HEALTH CANADA
-------------------------
¶9. The meetings elicited lively and useful exchanges between
the FDA, Quebec provincial officials, OQP, and Health Canada.
Health Canada Associate Director General Daniele Dionne offered
full federal support to Quebec. She said Ottawa was ready to
work more closely with provincial regulatory bodies. FDA
officials were struck her notification that Health Canada was
moving forward with unannounced compliance inspections on
internet sites starting in February to examine how regulations
were being applied on these sites. Dionne said her Ministry and
FDA had recently signed an MOU on information sharing and
pledged to remain in close contact in this regard. She also
stressed the need for close federal/provincial cooperation.
With safety as the principal concern, she underscored that none
of the 6000 pharmacists in Quebec are involved in illegal
internet practices; cyber companies are going elsewhere because
of Quebec's effective regulatory system.
------------------------------
BIO- TERRORISM ACT
-----------------------------
¶10. As the U.S. is Quebec's number one client in terms of food
exports, BTA legislation has a direct impact; the Charest
government has provided comments through the federal government.
Quebec's main concern is prior notification for importation
into the States: the province's concerns were reflected in the
initial regulations. Poulin said the province appreciated the
8-month soft enforcement period. The industry and farmers need
time to adjust; they are hopeful they will be adequately
prepared when the Act comes into full effect next summer. So
far, there has been no appreciable impact on the border, but the
program is new and it is still winter. The 8-month soft
enforcement period would end in the middle of the fresh produce
period. For the time being, transportation companies only
receive warnings at the border. Quebec representatives asked
whether it would be possible to harmonize the BTA regulations
with existing the FAST and CPAT programs at the border. FDA
replied that the initial BTA regulations were drawn up under a
tight deadline, but that there would be another 30-day comment
period in March.
----------------------
GMO LABELING
----------------------
¶11. Asked about potential food labeling legislation, the Quebec
officials said a parliamentary commission had been formed to
look at food safety. Under this umbrella the commission may
examine and suggest legislation on GMO labeling. The committee
is expected to report to the National Assembly in the spring.
Public hearings will follow. Both the federal and provincial
governments share jurisdiction on food labeling and must
harmonize their approach. Inter-provincial and international
trade is under federal jurisdiction while internal provincial
trade is under Quebec control.
¶12. Comment: The FDA representatives underlined that America
was primarily focused on safety issues, and the point was made
more effectively than has often been the case because they
emphasized that high American demand for drugs, combined with
the curtailing of deliveries by drug producers, would create
market pressures that would inevitably open the path to
counterfeiters and undermine even the efforts of even the best
regulatory authorities. This message was well received by the
Quebec side, for whom legal and professional (safety) issues are
as much at stake as political and economic concerns. The
participants all focused on the longer-term potential for
problems caused by the cross-border internet pharmacy trade.
Health Canada's participation was appreciated in that it allowed
the Quebec side to differentiate between provincial and federal
systems in a way that elicited cooperation.
KEOGH