Mission Description

The International Trade Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Commercial Service in Montreal is hosting the Natural Health Products Trade Mission in Canada March 29-30, 2004. This export business development mission is designed to provide small-to-medium sized export-ready companies with a first-hand opportunity to become familiar with the Canadian natural health products market and new regulations in 2004. It is designed to establish new and profitable commercial relations, and to access valuable marketing information from up-to-date industry briefings. This two-day intensive program provides group briefings on the Canadian market and an agenda of scheduled individual business appointments in Canada.

The participation fee of US$900 provides each U.S. participant with:

• Group Briefing Programs on Complying with Regulations and Doing Business
  
• Pre-screened and Pre-scheduled Individual Business Appointments
  
• Market Exposure through Promotion to Key Industry Buyers in Canada
  
• Individual Business Counseling Service
  
• Post-Event Follow Up Support
  
• Logistical Support During Visit in Canada

U.S. companies that are makers of the following products and which sell to distributors and retailers are well suited for this export business development event:

• Vitamins and Minerals
  
• Health Food/Supplements
  
• Herbal Products
  
• Homeopathic Medicines
  
• Neutraceuticals
  
• Prebiotics

Commercial Setting

U.S. - Canada trade has more than doubled since the Free Trade Agreement (the predecessor of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was implemented in 1989. Today, U.S. - Canada trade is valued at more than US$1.4 billion dollars per day and it continues to grow. The Canadian dollar has recently gained 20 percent in value vis-à-vis the U.S. dollar which augurs well for U.S. exports. Businesses and consumers continue to benefit from low interest rates, which also bodes well for corporate profits, employment, and consumer spending.

More than 50% of Canadians now consume natural health products in the form of traditional herbal products, vitamins and mineral supplements, traditional Chinese, homeopathic and other natural medicines. With this growing popularity it has become more important than ever for Canadian health authorities to regulate such products and define them appropriately. This has led to the creation of a new regulatory body called the Natural Health Products Directorate. It is therefore a strategic time for U.S. firms to position themselves with the Canadian market in view of the new regulations to be enforced in 2004.

Mission Goal

The mission's goal is to provide U.S. firms with a cost-effective and efficient method of entering the Canadian market by providing the adequate market and regulatory environment knowledge and opportunities to develop relationships with, and promote their products to, potential representatives, buyers and business partners in Canada.

Mission Scenario

The Natural Health Products Trade Mission will commence with a half-day of market and regulation briefings and will be followed by an afternoon and a next morning schedule of pre-arranged one-on-one meetings with qualified Canadian business partners. A networking reception at the end of the first day will also provide participants with valuable exposure.

Timetable

This trade event will be conducted in Montreal, Canada, March 29 and 30, 2004.

Sunday - March 28, 2004 (or before)	Arrival of participants in Montreal
Monday - March 29, 2004	- 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. - Group Briefings - 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. - One-on-one Appointments - 5.30 to 7:00 p.m. - Networking Reception at    U.S. Consul General's Residence
Tuesday - March 30, 2004	- 8:30 to 1:00 p.m. - One-on-one Appointments - Mission program ends at 1:00 p.m.

Recruitment and Criteria for Participation

Recruitment is conducted by the U.S. Commercial Service in Montreal, Canada with the assistance of the Healthcare Team, U.S. Export Assistance Centers, State Economic Development Offices, Small Business Associations, U.S. multipliers and Associations. Promotion of the event will be handled by e-mail, direct mail, outbound calls and travel outreach. The event is listed on CS Canada's home page, http://www.ita.doc.gov/CSCanada.

The criteria for participation are as follows:

• relevance of the company's business line to mission goals;
  
• potential for business in the natural health products market;
  
• timely and adequate provision of company product/service information and literature, to enable communication of company's objectives and scheduling of appointments.
  
• timeliness of company's completed application, participation agreement and payment of participation fees. The fee does not include airfare, hotels, meals or other personal expenses.
  
• a maximum of 10 companies participating in the mission.
  
• certification that the company meets U.S. Department of Commerce guidelines for participation, including certification that the company's products and/or services are manufactured or produced in the United States. If the company's products and/or services are manufactured or produced outside of the United States, the product/service must be marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and U.S. content representing at least 51% of the value of the finished goods or service.

The cut-off date for recruitment is March 8, 2004. Applications received after the deadline date will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit.

Recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner, including publication in the Federal Register, posting on the Internet, press releases to the general and trade media.

Any partisan political activities of an applicant, including political contributions, will be entirely irrelevant to the selection process.

Contact Information

Pierre Richer
Project Manager
U.S. Commercial Service, U.S. Consulate - Montreal
1155 Saint Alexander Street
Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3B 3Z1
Tel: 514 / 398-9695, ext. 6-2261
Fax: 514 / 398-0711
Email: pierre.richer@mail.doc.gov