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.