What is NHP in Canada ?

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What is NHP in Canada?

Natural health products (NHPs), also known as dietary supplements, contain natural ingredients such as vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other botanicals intended to supplement the diet. NHPs are used to maintain or improve health and are available in various forms, such as capsules, tablets, powders, and liquids. NHPs are regulated differently in different countries but are generally considered a type of food or food supplement. In some countries, including Canada and the United States, NHPs are regulated separately from food and drugs, and specific regulations are in place to ensure their safety and efficacy. 

 Under the Natural Health Products Regulations in Canada, which became operational on January 1, 2004, natural health products (NHPs) are defined as follows: 

“A substance set out in Schedule 1 or a combination of substances in which all the medicinal ingredients are substances set out in Schedule 1, a homoeopathic medicine or a traditional medicine that is used exclusively in accordance with traditional use and that is in Schedule 2, or a vitamin or mineral that is set out in Schedule 3, and includes a substance that is required to be labelled as a natural health product under these Regulations.” 

Schedule 1 of the regulations lists acceptable medicinal ingredients, while Schedule 2 lists traditional medicines that can be used in accordance with traditional use. Schedule 3 lists allowable vitamins and minerals. To be sold in Canada, NHPs must be licensed by Health Canada and meet specific safety, efficacy, and quality standards. 

  • Probiotics 
  • Herbal remedies 
  • Vitamins and minerals 
  • Homoeopathic medicines 
  • Traditional medicines, like traditional Chinese medicines 
  • Other products like amino acids and essential fatty acids [1] 

 

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