Conventional vs Supplemented Foods: Understanding the Differences in Canada and the USA
Introduction The distinction between conventional and supplemented foods is something many food businesses find confusing. If you are developing or importing products into Canada or the United States, it is critical to know which category your product belongs to and what rules apply. In this blog, you will learn how conventional foods differ from supplemented
... Read moreNNHPD Monographs: Difference Between Class I, II and III Applications
Introduction Have you ever wondered which Natural Health Product (NHP) application class your product belongs to? This is a question many manufacturers face when preparing to enter the Canadian market. Identifying the correct application type has become increasingly crucial, as choosing the wrong one can result in rejection notices (RN), costly delays, and setbacks to
... Read moreValidation of the Safe Food for Canadians Licence to Import
In order for food that is regulated under the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations, to be imported into Canada, the importer must hold a valid Safe Food for Canadians (SFC) license. This license is issued by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and must be presented with the shipment at the border in order for
... Read moreEnsuring Predictability for Interim Orders Relating to COVID-19
Health Canada recently published an additional notice regarding all interim orders relating to COVID-19 and Medical Devices. This notice is showing the understanding from Health Canada that stakeholders require predictability for applicable regulatory aspects in respect to the interim orders. The notice will be updated with links to notices regarding any consultations, and any related
... Read moreQ&A: Selling Hand Sanitizers in Canada
With the need for hand sanitizers significantly increasing for healthcare personnel and individuals during the current COVID-19 pandemic do help prevent and reduce the spread of the coronavirus Health Canada is taking action with interim measures to increase the supply of these products. This post is to help answer questions related to these actions and
... Read moreForeign Supplier Verification Program – USA & Canada agreement?
Under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), the United States (U.S.) started graduated enforcement of the Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) in May 2017. FSVP (Foreign Supplier Verification program) requires U.S. importers (regulated by US FDA) to verify that food imported into the United States has been produced in a manner that meets applicable U.S. safety standards. Similar to the
... Read moreNatural Health Product Brand Name Guidance
Natural Health Product Brand Name Guidance Brand names are an important part of your marketing strategy, but as many of us know firsthand there is a difference between what the marketing team wants to say and what the regulatory authorities will let you get away with. Consideration needs to be taken to ensure your brand
... Read moreAmazon.ca removing non-compliant Natural Health Products in October
In September Amazon.ca notified every Natural Health Product vendor (whether they had an NPN or not) that, effective in October 2018 they will be removing all products that don’t have a Natural Health Product Number. Here’s the email they sent to sellers: AMAZON NOTICE TO SELLERS OF NATURAL HEALTH PRODUCTS Dear Seller, Pursuant to Canadian
... Read moreWhat Every Business Should Know About NPN Applications
Just a little background information first before I talk about the business aspect of capitalizing on your NPN. NPN stands for Natural Product Number. It is a license that is issued by Health Canada and required for a dietary supplement (the term used in Canada is Natural Health Product) to legally be sold in Canada.
... Read moreSummary of the Proposed Approach to the Regulation of Canna
On November 21, 2017 the Canadian Minister of Health announced the Proposed Approach to the Regulation of Canna. The public consultation 60-day period has begun for feedback on the proposed rules which are primarily to layout the framework and regulations around recreational marijuana with medical marijuana rules, for the most part, being status quo. The
... Read moreCanada Natural Health Product (NHP) Labelling Revision Update for Products Containing Green Tea Extract (GTE)
On November 14, 2017 the Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate (NNHPD) announced that there are several updates to the NHP Monograph for Green Tea Extract based on reports from Canada and worldwide that there may be a link, albeit the risk is rare, of the use between green tea extract and risk of a
... Read moreFDA proposes extended dates for Nutrition Facts and Supplement Facts labels compliance
This past June 2017 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) put a hold on the compliance dates for Nutrition Facts and Supplement facts compliance dates. The compliance dates were scheduled for July 26, 2018 for companies with annual sales over $10 million and July 26, 2019 for companies with sales over $10 million. Scott Gotlieb
... Read moreChanges to Regulation of Veterinary Health Products (VHP) in Canada
As discussed in an earlier post (PLL – Plain Language Labeling: What it means and how it affects you), the Food and Drugs Act (F&DA) underwent drastic revision after the thalidomide crisis of the 1960s. While some amendments have been introduced since then, the F&DA has remained mostly untouched. In 2014, the Regulations Amending the
... Read moreImport Solutions for Natural Health Products – Our New Website!
Our sister company, Quality IMPORT Solutions has a new website with all the information you need to make an informed decision when choosing an importer for your natural health products and what makes Quality IMPORT Solutions different than other providers. You visit the site at www.qualityIMPORTsolutions.com.
... Read morePLL – Plain Language Labeling: What it means and how it affects you
BACKGROUND Originally implemented in 1920 after the inception of the Federal department of Health in 1919, the Food and Drugs Act (F&DA) underwent drastic revision after the thalidomide crisis of the 1960s. While some amendments have been introduced since then, the F&DA has remained mostly untouched. In 2014, the Regulations Amending the Food and Drug
... Read moreTop 3 things to consider when planning to sell your Dietary Supplement in CANADA
Some companies make the assumption that selling a dietary supplement product in Canada is no different than selling in the United States. There are, in fact, several distinct differences. As you plan to enter the Canadian market there are several points to consider. You need to obtain a Natural Product Number (NPN). This
... Read moreA New NHPD Ingredient Database Monograph Coming Soon?
Health Canada recently announced their initiative to modernize the regulatory framework for health products and foods. This is required due to a variety of factors, such as new and emerging science breakthroughs and public health threats worldwide. The modernization is also based on public input regarding the need for greater transparency. The Canadian federal government
... Read moreKeeping An Eye On The Global Health Products Landscape
Significant changes are occurring in the global regulatory landscape as of late, and this is just another example of how the world is evolving into a single global marketplace. Products marketed in the United States may be in Brazil after having cleared the regulatory hurdles of that country. Products made in Korea may be in
... Read moreThank you for visiting us at the NATURAL PRODUCTS EXPO WEST in Anaheim, California in March!
We hope you found it as successful as we did. Feel free to email us at info@qualitysmartsolutions.com or give us a call at 1-800-396-5144.
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