MONTREAL -- The Ordre des chimistes du Québec (OCQ) announced that its professional inspection committee will investigate manufacturers following an audit report published by the Office of the Auditor General of Canada.

In a news release published Monday, the OCQ specifies that any situation deemed "problematic" will be submitted to the Direction des enquetes et des poursuites penales, which may impose findings or turn to the Court of Quebec if searches are necessary.

"According to the Auditor General's report, Health Canada's oversight of natural health products marketed in Canada has not ensured the safety and efficacy of these products," says OCQ President Michel Alsayegh.

"Clearly, this does not demonstrate the effectiveness of these products, which are nevertheless present on the shelves of various stores and pharmacies. Not to mention the approval of homeopathic products that are based on fanciful theories and in total contradiction with the principles, verified and verifiable, of chemistry," he denounced in a news release.

While the efficacy and dangerousness of natural health products are normally the responsibility of medical or pharmaceutical experts, the Ordre des chimistes emphasizes that the development and design of products is a form of chemical practice.

Chemists must therefore be involved in the quality management of ingredients, formulation, safe handling and storage of raw materials, dosing and product certification.

- This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 10, 2021.

Correction:

In a May 10 dispatch from The Canadian Press, the president of the Ordre des chimistes du Québec said the Auditor General believes Health Canada is approving natural health products without real scientific evidence of their effectiveness. Mr. Alsayegh retracted his statement, saying that it was rather the monitoring carried out by Health Canada that did not guarantee the safety and effectiveness of these products.