Advisory Committees

The Health Products and Food Branch of Health Canada has established a number of advisory groups to provide advice and, in some cases, to act as sounding boards to the branch and to other Health Canada officials as they carry out their work.

Please contact us at ocapi-bpcp@hc-sc.gc.ca to submit your comments or suggestions on the usefulness and design of this public participation tool.

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Table of Contents

Biologics and Genetic Therapies Directorate (BGTD)

National Blood Safety Council
Expert Advisory Committee on Blood Regulations
Expert Advisory Committee Xenograph Regulation
Canadian Council on Donation and Transplantation

Food Directorate

Federal/Provincial/Territorial Committee on Food Safety Policy

Natural Health Products Directorate

(NHPD) Expert Advisory Committee

Office of Nutrition Policy and Promotion (ONPP)

Expert Advisory Committee on Dietary Reference Intakes
Federal/Provincial/Territorial Group on Nutrition
Network on Healthy Eating
Expert Working Group on Healthy Body Weights

Therapeutic Products Directorate (TPD)

Advisory Committee on Management
Scientific Advisory Committee on Anti-Infective Therapies
Scientific Advisory Committee on Bioavailability and Bioequivalence
Scientific Advisory Committee on HIV Therapies
Scientific Advisory Committee on Human Reproductive Therapies
Scientific Advisory Committee on Medical Devices Used in Cardiovascular System
Scientific Advisory Committee on Pharmacovigilance
Scientific Advisory Committee on Oncology Therapies
Scientific Advisory Panel on DEHP in Medical Devices
Scientific Advisory Panel on Hepatotoxicity
Scientific Advisory Panel on Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) & Serotonin/Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRI)

Marketed Health Products Directorate (MHPD)

Canadian Coalition on Medication Incident Reporting and Prevention

Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS)

Science Advisory Board

Office of Consumer and Public Involvement (OCAPI)

Public Advisory Committee (PAC)

Biologics and Genetic Therapies Directorate (BGTD)

National Blood Safety Council

Purpose

Reports to the Minister of Health. Provides advice to the Minister on public health, ethical, public policy, and other issues pertaining to blood safety within the responsibility of the federal government, particularly issues pertaining to blood regulation and surveillance.

Members

17

Meeting Frequency

6 times / year and open forum 2 times/year

Contact

http://www.bloodservices.ca/centreapps/internet/uw_v502_mainengine.nsf/web/
DCA8A4C099A9527785256AB100561392?OpenDocument

Expert Advisory Committee on Blood Regulations

Purpose

Reports to the Director General of BGTD, providing timely advice on medical and scientific issues relevant to federal responsibilities within the national blood system

Members

15, (3 ad hoc), (1 guest)

Meeting Frequency

6 times / yr (2 full day meetings, 4 teleconferences)

For more information, see

Expert Advisory Committee Xenograph Regulation

Purpose

Reports to the Director General of BGTD, providing timely advice on medical, scientific, ethical and communication issues related to the regulation of xenographs.

Members

15, (3 ad hoc)

Meeting Frequency

As required

For more information, see

Canadian Council on Donation and Transplantation

Purpose

Reports to Federal/Provincial/Territorial Deputy Ministers of Health.
Provides advice in support of efforts to coordinate activities related to organ donation and transplantation.

Members

16

Meeting Frequency

3 times / year

Contact

maggie_wylie@hc-sc.gc.ca

Food Directorate

Federal/Provincial/Territorial Committee on Food Safety Policy

Purpose

Reports to Assistant Deputy Minister, Health Products and Food Branch.
Focuses on developing national food safety standards and policies within a public health context and is a key advisory group to Health Canada.

Members

20

Meeting Frequency

2 face-to-face, 5 teleconference

Contact

Anne-Marie St-Laurent (613) 957-1829

Natural Health Products Directorate (NHPD)

Expert Advisory Committee

Purpose

Reports to Director General of NHPD. Provides NHPD with timely expert advice for questions on the safety, claims, use and regulations of natural health products.

Member

13

Meeting Frequency

Average 4 times / year

Contact

nhpd_dpsn@hc-sc.gc.ca

For more information, see

Natural Health Products Advisory Committee

Office of Nutrition Policy and Promotion (ONPP)

Expert Advisory Committee on Dietary Reference Intakes

Purpose

Reports to the Director General, Office of Nutrition Policy and Promotion.
Provides advice and informed feedback on how best to address issues related to the implementation of Dietary Reference Intakes into Health Canada's nutrition policies and programs.

Members

11

Meeting Frequency

3 times / year

Contact

Expert Advisory Committee on Dietary Reference Intakes

Federal/Provincial/Territorial Group on Nutrition

Purpose

Reports to Director General of ONPP.
Provides leadership in stimulating and accelerating actions toward achieving nutritional well-being for all Canadians.

Members

18

Meeting Frequency

1 time / year face- to-face
Quarterly teleconference

For more information, see

Federal Provincial Territorial Group on Nutrition

Network on Healthy Eating

Purpose

Reports to Director General of ONPP.
Enhances collaboration, cooperation and coordination of effort to support healthy eating and nutrition in Canada.

Members

22

Meeting Frequency

1 time / year face- to-face, Quarterly teleconference

For more information, see

Network on Healthy Eating

Expert Working Group on Healthy Body Weights

Purpose

Reports to the Director General, ONPP, on weight guidelines for healthy adults.

Members

13

Meeting Frequency

3 times / year

For more information, see

Healthy Body Weights

Marketed Health Products Directorate (MHPD)

Canadian Coalition on Medication Incident Reporting and Prevention

Purpose

Reports to each of the 12 member organizations, including HPFB's Marketed Health Products Directorate. Its goal is to enhance the safety of the Canadian medication use system through development of a business plan for a program that will focus on reducing harm caused by preventable medication incidents.

Members

13

Meeting Frequency

4 times / year

Contact

e-mail: mhpd_dpsc@hc-sc.gc.ca

Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS)

Science Advisory Board

Purpose

Reports to the Minister of Health. Responsibilities include providing broad strategic advice on the direction, balance and relevance of Health Canada's science priorities as well as advice on the effectiveness, relevance and quality of its science and research.

Members

22

Meeting Frequency

1 to 6 / year

For more information, see

Science Advisory Board

Office of Consumer and Public Involvement (OCAPI)

Public Advisory Committee (PAC)

Purpose

Reports to Assistant Deputy Minister of the Health Products and Food Branch. PAC is a public/consumer involvement forum which advises on issues and initiatives as requested by the Branch. It is a component of the Branch`s strategy to increase transparency and public involvement through the consultation processes.

Members

16 (maximum of 20)

Meeting Frequency

Three times a year

Contact

ocapi-bpcp@hc-sc.gc.ca

Please contact us to submit your comments or suggestions on the usefulness and design of this public participation tool.