Health committee  I know others may want to add, but I'll start just for a little clarity. There has been a focus on products available in the pharmacy, but I think you've also heard my colleagues say that precursors are being imported. While there are products available in the pharmacy, they are there for legitimate purposes and we do have to keep that in mind as well.

Health committee  Perhaps I'll answer that question. With regard to the precursor chemicals and the scheduled chemicals under the CDSA, licensed dealers are required. There is a duty to report suspicious transactions to Health Canada.

Health committee  We do work with the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities, NAPRA, which you may be familiar with. It gives some guidance to the pharmacy colleges from province to province about things like where to keep products—behind the shelf or in front—and it is left to each individual province in the pharmacy college to make those determinations.

Health committee  Perhaps I could add a little bit. I know you're on time, so I'll try to be very fast. Certainly pharmacies are aware, and colleges of pharmacy as well. For example, in Alberta and B.C., the college of pharmacy recommends that these products are kept behind the counter so that you have to ask.

Health committee  Perhaps just proceed to your next question.

Health committee  Thank you. The cold medication that you're referring to probably is pseudoephedrine, or the brand name Sudafed. People will sometimes call it that. Certainly that is sometimes considered the faster way of making methamphetamine. However, the interesting thing with methamphetamine is that it is in a sense a chemically created product.

Health committee  I'm not sure if my colleagues from law enforcement would like to answer that. I could try, but I'm just wondering if you'd like to take that.

Health committee  If you'll permit me, since I understand you're at the beginning of your study, I'll just talk a little about the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and the regulations and schedules, and how I think it aims to do exactly what it is you are suggesting. The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, or the CDSA, is our framework legislation, and then we have various schedules under that, as you may know.