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 have until June 22, 2028, to comply with the new labelling requirements.
NHPs authorized by Health Canada before June 21, 2025, have a transition period of three years, which was included in the 2022 amendments.
NHPs authorized on or after June 21, 2025, are exempt from the new labelling provisions provided that the product is labelled in accordance with the Natural Health Products Regulations as they read immediately before June 21, 2025.
The exemption can be found in the Exemption Order in Respect of Labelling Requirements for Certain Natural Health Products, which was published in the Canada Gazette, Part II on March 26, 2025. The Ministerial Order comes into force on June 21, 2025, which is the same day the new labelling provisions come into force.
Health Canada continues to work with companies to help implement the improved labelling requirements.