News Release

2006-102
October 19, 2006
For immediate release

Canada, Mexico and the United States Combat Diabetes Fraud

OTTAWA - Health Canada and the Competition Bureau have joined forces with counterpart agencies in the U.S. and Mexico to announce today 177 compliance and enforcement actions against companies promoting bogus Diabetes products and services.

Fighting "miracle cures" fraud is a key priority for all three countries. This year's initiative is focussed on diabetes, as approximately two million Canadians, two million Mexicans and 17 million Americans of all ages are affected by this serious disease.

"Diabetes is a serious health issue that affects a large number of people all over the world and many consumers are lured by false claims about miracle cures for this disease," said Canada’s Health Minister Tony Clement. "Any product that claims to be a miracle cure for diabetes is a fraud that could cheat Canadians of their time, money and most importantly, their health," the Minister said. "We will continue to work with our North American partners to combat health scams designed to exploit vulnerable consumers."

This diabetes fraud campaign led by six agencies (two from each country) is the second in a series of collaborative efforts to fight misleading miracle cure claims under the Trilateral Cooperation Charter agreement. This year’s campaign involves a variety of methods to deter false and misleading diabetes cure-all advertising and labelling, including Internet sweeps, warnings, recalls, seizures, import refusals, prosecutions and other enforcement actions.

"The cross-border nature of Internet fraud requires an international response," said Sheridan Scott, Commissioner of  Canada's Competition Bureau. "Canada, Mexico and the United States will continue to take a unified stance against targeted consumer health fraud threats. The message to marketers of bogus health products and services is clear: there is no place to hide. The message to consumers is: be smart, be skeptical. If it sounds too good to be true, it likely is."

Compliance and enforcement actions are complemented by a comprehensive education and public outreach program to help consumers, industry and advertisers to identify which types of claims are deceptive and misleading. Partner agencies have developed various consumer education and awareness products including a pamphlet on fraudulent diabetes cures and an  "educational teaser" Web site. The Competition Bureau and Health Canada continue to collaborate with the Canadian Diabetes Association to reach and inform vulnerable consumers.

For more information about the Canada-Mexico-US Trilateral Cooperation Agreement, please visit the Trilateral Cooperation Web site. Last year, the Trilateral Cooperation announced collaborative actions taken to fight weight-loss fraud.

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Media Enquiries:
Alastair Sinclair
Health Canada
(613) 957-1803

Erik Waddell
Office of the Honourable Tony Clement
Federal Minister of Health
(613) 957-0200

Maureen McGrath
Competition Bureau
(819) 953-8982

Public Enquiries:
(613) 957-2991
1-866 225-0709