How to Get an NPN: Natural Product Number Application Guide

Before you can legally sell a natural health product in Canada, Health Canada requires it to carry a Natural Product Number (NPN). Here's what the NPN is, which products need one, and how to get through the application process without unnecessary delays.

What Is an NPN?

An NPN is an 8-digit number Health Canada assigns once a natural health product (NHP) has been reviewed and licensed for sale. It confirms the product meets Health Canada's standards for safety, efficacy, and quality, and it must appear on the product label before it can be sold.

Which Products Need One?

Vitamins, minerals, herbal remedies, homeopathic medicines, probiotics, and traditional medicines all fall under Health Canada's NHP framework and require an NPN before sale in Canada, whether manufactured domestically or imported.

What You'll Need to Apply

• A completed Product License Application (PLA) through Health Canada's online portal

• Evidence supporting safety and efficacy — often referencing an accepted monograph

• Complete label information, including medicinal and non-medicinal ingredients

• Site license information for the manufacturer, packager, and/or importer

The Application Process

Applications are submitted electronically. If your product's ingredients and claims match an existing Health Canada monograph, review is typically faster. Novel ingredients or non-standard claims trigger a more detailed safety review and a longer timeline.

Common Reasons for Delays

• Label claims that don't match the supporting evidence submitted

• Missing or inconsistent site license references

• Incomplete safety data for non-monograph ingredients

How TheMedNerds Helps

We prepare and manage NPN applications end to end — matching your product to the right monograph, aligning your labels with your evidence, and handling Health Canada correspondence. Book a free consultation to get started.