Current Statistics on the NHPD regulatory products in Canada

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Current Statistics on the NHPD regulatory products in Canada

As of January 1, 2021, the Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate (NNHPD) of Health Canada regulates natural health products (NHPs) and non-prescription medicines in Canada.  

Natural Health products are derived from plants, microorganisms, animals, or marine sources intended to restore or maintain good health. They include vitamins, minerals, amino acids and essential fatty acids. On the contrary, non-prescription drugs do not require a prescription from a medical practitioner. Instead, they include over-the-counter drugs like analgesics, laxatives and cough medicines; behind-the-counter drugs like emergency birth control pills; and disinfectants.  

The following statistics are from the NNHPD website as of March 2023: 

  • There are over 80,000 NHPs licensed for sale in Canada. 
  • In 2021, the NNHPD received over 27,000 product licence applications for NHPs. 
  • As of December 31, 2021, the NNHPD had issued over 42,000 product licences for NHPs. 
  • The most commonly licensed NHP categories are vitamins and minerals, herbal remedies, and homoeopathic medicines. 
  • The NNHPD conducts over 1,500 inspections and assessments each year to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. 
  • The NNHPD receives approximately 2,000 adverse reaction reports each year related to NHPs. 

These statistics indicate the size and importance of the NHP market in Canada and the regulatory efforts undertaken to ensure the safety, efficacy, and quality of these products [1].  

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