ATCMA
Defending Safe Herbal Practice: ATCMA Board Members Join Protest Against Regulatory Changes
ATCMA board members, Charity Cheng and Dr. Virginia Ding, attended a rally today to protest the BC government's removal of the restricted activity of prescribing, compounding, and dispensing Chinese herbal formulas, currently set to come into action on April 1, 2026.
Act Now To Protect Public Safety and Professional Standards
With the implementation of the new Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA) and our new Regulations, forthcoming changes will remove the restricted activity of prescribing Chinese herbal formulas beginning April 1, 2026. The consequence? An opening for unregulated individuals to prescribe, compound, and sell Chinese herbal medicine without oversight, training, or professional accountability.
Removing this vital protection is not just a bureaucratic change — it’s a fundamental threat to public safety and the integrity of our profession. Take action!
3 Ways to Act to Regain Our Restricted Activity of Prescribing Chinese Herbs
The prescribing of Chinese herbal formulas requires specialized education, clinical judgment, and regulatory oversight. ATCMA is sharing these options for practitioners and public to support the reinstatement of prescribing, compounding, and dispensing of Chinese herbal medicine as a restricted activity in British Columbia.
FAQs about HPOA
On November 12, 2025, the British Columbia Naturopathic Doctors (BCND), the British Columbia Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Practitioners (ATCMA), the British Columbia Chiropractic Association (BCCA), and the Registered Massage Therapists Association of British Columbia (RMTBC) co-hosted a webinar to address key questions about the Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA).
The session centred on implementation of the Act and its implications for practice. The following FAQs summarize the main question themes raised during that webinar. A HUGE thank you to the BCND for providing this information and to the RMTBC for providing your lawyer for the webinar.
ATCMA response to bylaws section 6
ATCMA has heard the concerns over sections 6.8 (o) and (p) in the currently proposed bylaws from the CCHPBC. We hear you, and we will be responding formally to the CCHPBC before the deadline of September 23rd. You can also submit your own feedback at: https://cchpbc.ca/hpoa/bylawsconsultation/. Below we present just two elements for consideration of TCM registrants for these bylaws. Please note that we have not yet completed our full review of sections 6 and 9, but because there has been a fair amount of discussion about section 6.8 (o), we have decided to post this now in the hopes of providing more clarity and fact-based information.
CCHPBC Bylaws Feedback on Sections 7 and 12
The College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC (CCHPBC), our regulatory college, put out for public review and feedback Sections 7 and 12 of our new proposed bylaws for Acupuncturists and TCM professionals, naturopaths, registered massage therapists, and chiropractors on June 23rd. We were given only until July 7 to review the important sections and provide feedback. You too can provide feedback this weekend or Monday.