Health Canada began implementing the Natural Health Product(NHP)Regulations on January 1, 2004. The Regulations classify NHPs as a sub-category of drugs and specify industry requirements for selling NHPs in Canada, including manufacturing, packaging, labelling, storing, importing and distributing specifications.

Prior to January 2004, NHPs were officially regulated under the
Food and Drugs Act (1985), mainly depending on whether medicinal
claims were made. The NHP Regulations are administered by the Natural Health
Products Directorate (NHPD) of Health Canada. Any company that
sells an NHP in the Canadian market must submit a product licence application
(PLA) to the NHPD. The PLA must contain evidence for the safety, efficacy and quality of the product.

NHP Stats and Facts
• The Canadian Natural Health Product (NHP) market is estimated to include up to 50,000 products, all of which must submit licensing applications to the Natural Health Product Directorate (NHPD) to be legally sold in Canada by the 2010 Regulation enforcement deadline.
-University of Toronto (2006)

• Since January 1, 2004, Health Canada has received 30,446 product licence
applications. Of this number, 8,711 products have been issued a licence; 7,673 products have been refused and another 1,838 were withdrawn by the applicant. At time of print, Health Canada is presently assessing 12,224 product
licence applications.
-Health Canada (October, 2008)

• Nearly 75 percent of natural health products sold by health food retailers
are purchased from Canadian-based manufacturers.
-Leverus Inc. and Inter/Sect Alliance Inc. (2005)

• Fifty percent of the NHP industry is comprised of small and medium-sized business.
-University of Toronto (2006)

• Seventy-seven percent of Canadians agree that NHPs can be used to maintain or promote health and 76 percent purchased NHPs such as vitamins, minerals, homeopathics, herbals products, glucosamine, echinacea, sport nutrition and/or weight loss products in 2005.
-Ipsos Reid (2005)


[Sandra Tonn is a freelance journalist living in Powell River, BC. She relies on
natural health products to maintain health and prevent disease.]

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