Report 2—Natural Health Products—Health Canada
2021 Reports 1 and 2 of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development Report 2—Natural Health Products—Health Canada
Independent Auditor’s Report
At a Glance
Why we did this audit
- Many Canadians use natural health products. They expect these products to be safe and effective, and they expect to be properly informed about them.
- Health Canada is responsible for verifying that natural health products are made in facilities that follow good manufacturing practices. These practices help ensure that products are safe and effective as described.
- Products should not be on the market unless they are safe and the information provided to consumers is accurate and complete.
- In a pandemic, it is even more important that consumers use only products that have been licensed by Health Canada.
Our findings
- Health Canada did not always verify that manufacturing facilities followed good manufacturing practices before natural health products were marketed for sale in Canada.
- Health Canada left natural health products unchecked after they entered the market and was not always successful in responding to serious problems.
- Health Canada did not sufficiently monitor whether product label information and advertisements met the product-licence conditions.
- Health Canada responded effectively to natural health products related to COVID‑19.
Key facts and figures
- Since 2004, Health Canada has issued more than 91,000 licences for natural health products.
- Health Canada does not have the authority to order a change to a label or force a mandatory recall of a natural health product for any reason, including when a product presents a serious or imminent risk of injury to health.
- 88% of our sampled natural health products were advertised with misleading product information, and 56% with misleading label information.
- Between 2017 and 2019, Health Canada inspected around 6% of the 766 active licensed companies, and in nearly half of the 46 sites it inspected, the department took regulatory action because it identified significant health risks.
Highlights of our recommendations
- Health Canada should, for licensed natural health products on the market, including on the Internet, take a risk-based approach.
- Health Canada should develop a risk based monitoring and inspection program that establishes the scope and frequency of inspections and that considers risks related to products, sites, and problems raised from its follow-up activities.
- Health Canada should, in cases of products suspected of causing serious health risk, obtain the information it needs to verify and ensure that these products are not available for sale to consumers in Canada.
This audit supports the goal of good health and well-being, specifically the need to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.”
Infographic
Text version
This infographic presents the results of a survey on natural health products. As part of the audit work, we asked Canadians about their experiences with natural health products. This audit work was for our 2021 Reports of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Report 2, Natural Health Products—Health Canada.
The survey contained 6 questions and 99% of respondents were Canadian residents.
Question 1: Do you believe that the Government of Canada assesses all natural health products sold in Canada for both safety and efficacy?
In response to Question 1,
- 25% of respondents answered Yes
- 75% of respondents answered No
Question 2: How much do you trust the advertising for natural health products?
In response to Question 2,
- 6% of respondents answered that they very much trust the advertising
- 13% of respondents answered that they moderately trust the advertising
- 13% of respondents answered that they neither trust nor distrust the advertising
- 23% of respondents answered that they moderately distrust the advertising
- 45% of respondents answered that they very much distrust the advertising
Question 3: How easy is it to read natural health product labels?
In response to Question 3, most respondents answered that natural health product labels are minimally easy to read. Four choices were given for answering this question:
- not easy at all
- minimally easy
- moderately easy
- very easy
Question 4: In order of importance, which factors most influence your decision to purchase natural health products?
Question 4 asked survey respondents to rate 10 items in order of importance from not important to very important. In order of importance, the factors that influence the respondents’ decisions to purchase natural health products are as follows:
- A credible source that indicates that the product has benefits
- Label information
- Recommended use
- Where the product is made
- Statements about health benefits
- Price
- Recommendations from family and friends
- Advertising
- Other
- Recommendations from social media
Question 5: Where do you most often purchase your natural health products?
In response to Question 5,
- 51% of respondents answered that they most often purchase natural health products at pharmacies
- 24% of respondents answered that they most often purchase natural health products at stores specializing in natural health products
- 16% of respondents answered that they most often purchase natural health products at large retail and grocery stores
- 4% of respondents answered that they most often purchase natural health products online at Canadian retailers
- 2% of respondents answered that they most often purchase natural health products online at non‑Canadian retailers
- 3% of respondents answered that they most often purchase natural health products from health care professionals
- 0% of respondents answered that they most often purchase natural health products at dollar stores and other discount retailers
Question 6: Have you purchased any natural health products to help prevent or treat COVID‑19?
In response to Question 6,
- 14% of respondents answered Yes
- 86% of respondents answered No
Related information
| Entities |
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| Completion date | 3 December 2020 |
| Tabling date | 22 April 2021 |
OAG reports published in the past are available through Publications.gc.ca.