Pathway to Market for Natural Health Products in Canada

• By: Karen Friedman, M.Sc.
• Date: March 14, 2013

Canada is one of the few countries worldwide that has introduced and successfully implemented a regulatory framework for governing the sale and importation of natural health products (NHPs) to consumers. While the initial phase-in was met with disappointing review times and industry confusion over application requirements, the approval process has now become extremely efficient, with some types of NHP applications being approved in as little as 60 days. Sponsors wishing to receive product licences for their NHPs need simply to submit complete applications in proper format, and respond to any information requests within the given deadlines, in order to successfully register their products for sale in Canada.