Position:
Health Canada must require a "Warning: Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause birth defects" label on all alcoholic beverages sold in Canada.
Resolutions:
#A01-16, Fetal Alcohol Effects/Syndrome Prevention
Status:
Open
Recent Developments:
April 11, 2005
The federal Standing Committee on Health recommends in their report that Bill C-206, An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (warning labels regarding the consumption of alcohol), not proceed any further due to economic concerns.
March 14, 2005
Dr. David McKeown (MOH-Toronto) has written to the Standing Committee on Health (House of Commons) to support Bill C-206 - an act to amend the Food and Drug Act with respect to warning labels regarding alcohol consumption. Please click here to read.
February 9, 2005
2nd Reading of the federal Bill C-206, An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (warning labels regarding the consumption of alcohol).
October 13, 2004
1st Reading of the federal Bill C-206, An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (warning labels regarding the consumption of alcohol).
June 24, 2004
Royal assent given to Bill 43 - Liquor License Act amended. This Act requires that in order to maintan a provincial liquor license, you must display signage in your facility cautioning pregnant women that the consumption of alcohol during pregnency is the cause of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
March 29, 2004
Ist Reading of Private Member's Bill 43 (Ernie Parsons, MPP, Prince Edward-Hastings), An Act to Amend the Liquor License Act.
January 8, 2003
Received a response from Health Minister Anne McLellan indicating that under Private Member's Motion 155, her officials have considered the advisability of labelling, and have found that these types of labels appear to have little influence on the highest risk groups. It is still being considered as part of a wider strategy.
Notes:
- Durham Region Health & Social Services sent a letter to Prime Minister Jean Chretien on June 14, 2001 advocating for the above-described label.
- Let it be noted that both the federal and provincial legislative initiatives have been described in our 'Recent Developments' section despite Resolution #A01-16, Fetal Alcohol Effects/Syndrome Prevention implicating only the federal government. The The federal government regulates labelling of products under the Food and Drugs Act (e.g. the requested warnings about the health hazards of consuming alcohol while pregnant pasted to your bottle of Creemore - Bill c-206) and the provincial government regulates the requirements of maintaining a liquor license (e.g. the now-required warnings about the health hazards of consuming alcohol while pregnant pasted to the mirror in the bathroom- Bill 43).
