As a Canadian company, our quality starts at home with Health Canada, one of the world’s most rigorous regulators of natural health products. Here’s what that means and how it helps you choose supplements with confidence.
Who regulates supplements in Canada?
Health Canada regulates natural health products (NHPs) through the Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate (NNHPD). They review products to ensure they are:
- Made with acceptable ingredients and at appropriate doses
- Supported by evidence that matches the product’s health claims
- Manufactured to quality standards called Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs)
- Packaged and labelled correctly, including required cautions and directions
How does a supplement earn an NPN (Natural Product Number)?
When Health Canada approves a supplement, it issues a product licence and a Natural Product Number (NPN). This number tells you the product has been reviewed and is authorized for sale in Canada. Health Canada has different application pathways depending on the product and the level of evidence required:
- Health Canada maintains a public website to clarify what and how ingredients can be used in Canadian natural health products. This database includes monographs (pre-cleared references) of the most common ingredients and list the allowable uses, dosage forms, doses and applicable cautions.
- Products using unique dosage forms, novel ingredients or claims require an additional safety and efficacy report supported by clinical trial data and/or published scientific studies as part of the product licence application.
This ensures products are created with a scientific backing; ingredients are at a potency that are not only safe but can provide a health benefit. It also stops less reputable companies from making false health claims.
How to check a supplement label for an NPN
Choosing supplements shouldn’t feel like guesswork.
Ongoing quality: site licences, GMPs and inspections
In Canada, buildings that manufacture, package, label, and import natural health products must hold a site license and meet Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs). These facilities are also regularly audited and inspected to ensure compliance. Jamieson is approved by Health Canada for a Natural Health Products Site License and holds a Drug Establishment Licence (the type of GMP approval required to manufacture pharmaceuticals).
The bottom line
There are LOT of online supplements making ALL sorts of claims. Choosing supplements shouldn’t feel like guesswork. Health Canada’s involvement from approval of product formulation application to ongoing manufacturing audits is proof Jamieson meets requirements for:
- Quality
- Safety
- Substantiated health claims
