The Regulatory Framework In Canada
Natural health products are federally regulated and are licenced by the Natural and Non-Prescription Health Products Directorate (NNHPD) which is a division of Health Canada. In order to import into and sell natural products in Canada, they require a Natural Product Number (NPN) licence which must appear on the front panel of the label, and shipped to a site licensed importer.
The following constitutes a natural health product that requires a federal NPN licence.
- Vitamins and minerals
- Herbal products and herbs with health claims
- Homeopathic medicines
- Probiotics
- Nosodes
- Enzymes
- Amino Acids
- Bacteria
- Essential fatty acids
- Traditional medicines such as Traditional Chinese Medicines
- Ayruvedic medicine
- Lithotherapy
- Oligotherapy
- Gemmotherapy
- Etc.
Health Canada is open to reviewing additional types of scientifically provable products that might not fit into the above groups.