Natural health product regulation in Canada: Improved natural health product labelling

On this page

• NHP labelling requirements
• Improved NHP labelling
• Implementing new labelling requirements
• Timelines to implement improved NHP labelling

NHP labelling requirements

All NHPs must meet specific labelling requirements to help you make safe and informed choices about the NHPs you choose to use. NHP labels must include:

• the product name
• the product licence number
• the quantity of product in the bottle
• a complete list of medicinal and non-medicinal ingredients
• recommended use including purpose or health claim, route of administration and dose
• any cautionary statements, warnings, contra-indications and possible adverse reactions associated with the product
• any special storage conditions

Improved NHP labelling

In 2022, Health Canada amended the Natural Health Products Regulations to support consistent and prominent labelling of key information.

Changes to the labelling requirements include:

• labelling of priority allergens
• a standardized product facts table
• increased font size and improved contrast
• modernized contact information, such as a website, on the package

These changes will create a safer marketplace for you as better labelling will support you in selecting and safely using NHPs.

You can find more information on labelling and packaging requirements for NHPs in the guidance document on labelling of natural health products.

Implementing new labelling requirements

Health Canada knows that NHP label changes will take time for industry to implement. The new requirements takes into consideration industry concerns about costs, packaging and potential environmental impacts when it designed the transition to the improved labelling requirements. To minimize any potential impacts, we have:

• built in exemptions and flexibility to enable the continued use of existing package sizes to the extent possible
• introduced a 6-year transition period to allow most companies to make the label changes at the normal relabelling life cycle of their products and cycle through their existing stock without having to recall or destroy existing product

Timelines to implement improved NHP labelling

Products authorized by Health Canada before June 21, 2025, will have until June 22, 2028, to comply with the new labelling requirements.

Products authorized by Health Canada on or after June 21, 2025, are expected to comply with the new labelling requirements immediately.

Health Canada continues to work with companies to help implement the improved labelling requirements.