Consultation: Updates to the NHP Compounding and Raw Material Policies
Current status: Open
This consultation opened on May 13, 2026, and closes on July 12, 2026.
Over the past several years, Health Canada has heard from health care practitioners and their representatives about concerns related to the importation of substances for natural health product (NHP) compounding within their practices.
Currently, substances may be imported by manufacturers or health care practitioners (including but not limited to, pharmacists, Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners, herbalists, naturopathic doctors, homeopaths and others) for two purposes:
- sale as health products without further manipulation; or
- further processing or compounding of a health product (i.e. raw material)
Unlike imported finished NHPs, which are subject to the Natural Health Products Regulations (NHPR) and require both a product licence (PL) and a site licence (SL) under subsections 4(1) and 27(1), the NHPR do not specify whether raw materials are captured within the definition of an NHP. When determined to be NHPs, based on section 1(1) of the NHPR or a classification decision made by the Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate (NNHPD), shipments can be refused at the border due to the absence of a PL (i.e., unauthorized NHP) and/or because the importer does not hold a SL for importation.
The existing Raw Materials Policy was created to provide guidance on raw materials (not regulated under the NHPR) while the NHP Compounding Policy was created to distinguish the manufacturing of NHPs (regulated by the NHPR) and compounding of NHPs (not regulated by the NHPR). Despite these policies, the distinction between a raw material versus an NHP, and compounding versus manufacturing can be unclear.
Health Canada has taken the initiative to update these policies to better clarify the raw material definition as well as the activity of compounding.
We would like to hear from you. Please send your comments and suggested revisions to us.
Join in: How to participate
- Review the proposed updates to the NHP Compounding and Raw Material Policies.
- Make yourself heard: send your comments and suggested revisions to us via email at: nnhpd.consultation-dpsnso@hc-sc.gc.ca
Please do not include information in your response that could be used to directly identify yourself or another individual.
Who is the focus of this consultation
Health Canada is seeking comments from:
- academia
- researchers
- health professionals and their regulatory bodies
- Indigenous partners
- industry stakeholders (including manufacturers, importers, distributors, suppliers and compounders)
- consumer and non-governmental organizations
- members of the public
- other interested parties
Privacy Statement
Privacy Notice
The personal information will be collected by Health Canada as part of the feedback related to the compounding and raw material policies under the Department of Health Act and handled in accordance with the Privacy Act.
Why are we collecting your personal information? The information you provide will be used to inform Health Canada’s ongoing policy work on compounding and raw materials. No identifying information will be included in any reports, all responses will be summarized and aggregated to reduce the risk you might be identified.
Will we use or share your personal information for any other reason? In limited and specific situations, your personal information may be disclosed without your consent in accordance with legal requirements like under sub-section 8(2) of the Privacy Act.
What happens if you don’t want to provide your personal information? Your decision to participate or not is yours alone and there will be no consequences if you decide not to participate.
What are your rights? You have the right to access and request a correction and/or notation to your personal information. You also have a right to complain to the Privacy Commissioner of Canada if you feel your personal information has been handled improperly. For more information about these rights, or about how we handle your personal information, please contact the nnhpd.consultation-dpsnso@hc-sc.gc.ca
For more information: The collection of your personal information is described in Info Source at infosource.gc.ca. Refer to the personal information bank (PIB) PSU 938 – Outreach Activities.
Contact us
Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate
Health Products and Food Branch
Health Canada
Email: nnhpd.consultation-dpsnso@hc-sc.gc.ca