Product Licensing
The Natural Health Products Directorate (NHPD) has changed its name to the Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate (NNHPD) subsequent to its recently expanded mandate to include the oversight of non-prescription and disinfectant drugs in addition to natural health products (NHPs). Please note that we are currently modifying documents to reflect this change.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
All natural health products (NHPs) sold in Canada require a product licence before being marketed. Obtaining a licence requires submitting to Health Canada detailed information on the product, including:
- medicinal ingredients
- source
- potency
- non-medicinal ingredients, and
- recommended use.
Once a product licence application has been assessed and granted market authorization by Health Canada, the product label will bear an eight digit product licence number preceded by the distinct letters NPN (Natural Product Number), or, in the case of a homeopathic medicine, by the letters DIN-HM.
The product licence number on the label assures consumers that the product has been reviewed and approved by Health Canada for safety and efficacy.