Health Canada has confirmed it is moving forward with amendments to NHP labelling requirements in Canada, with draft regulations now targeted for pre-publication in the Canada Gazette, Part I in spring 2027. The announcement, made through Natural Health Product Licensing Bulletin No. 10 dated May 11, 2026, signals that the existing June 21, 2028, compliance deadline will not be the final word on the matter.
The bulletin confirms that the Department plans to make the labelling requirements in the Natural Health Products Regulations (NHPR) more flexible, and that a new proposed transition period beyond June 2028 will be established through consultation with industry and non-industry stakeholders alike.
Background: Where the 2022 Amendments Stand Today
Health Canada registered the Regulations Amending the Natural Health Products Regulations on June 21, 2022. They came into force on June 21, 2025, with the objective of improving product labelling so that information is clear, consistent, and legible for consumers. NHPs licensed before June 21, 2025 received a three-year transition period, setting June 21, 2028 as the current NHP labelling compliance deadline. Newly licensed products originally had to comply from the date of licensing.
Following industry feedback, Health Canada issued a Ministerial Exemption Order in March 2025. This order aligned the compliance date for newly licensed NHPs with the existing 2028 deadline. That measure served as a bridge, not a resolution. The Department has now signalled it is revisiting the underlying requirements themselves.
What Health Canada Found Through Stakeholder Engagement
Beginning in 2024, Health Canada ran a structured stakeholder engagement process to understand the challenges companies faced in preparing for the new NHPR labelling amendments. The Department identified a concrete technical problem. Certain products with many ingredients or extensive risk statements could not fit all required information on their labels without compromising readability. This difficulty worsened when companies applied multiple formatting flexibilities under the regulations at the same time.
The engagement process also examined digital labelling as a potential tool to support implementation and improve consumer outcomes. These findings fed directly into Health Canada’s Red Tape Reduction commitments. The September 2025 Report on Red Tape Reduction includes a specific commitment to advance regulatory amendments that make NHP labelling requirements more flexible.
What the Proposed Regulatory Amendments Will Cover
Health Canada has not yet published the specific content of the proposed amendments. The Department targets spring 2027 for pre-publication of draft regulations in the Canada Gazette, Part I. A formal comment period will follow that publication. The draft will include a new proposed transition timeline beyond the current June 2028 compliance date. Stakeholder consultation during the regulatory development process will determine that timeline.
The Department has framed this as a collaborative process. Health Canada stated it will engage with regulated parties to assess the costs and benefits of the amendments. For manufacturers and brand owners tracking their NHP label compliance 2028 planning, the regulatory timeline is in active motion.
What This Means for Your Business
The June 2028 Deadline Still Stands
The June 21, 2028 compliance deadline remains in effect. Companies should not treat this announcement as a reason to pause compliance planning. Health Canada has not suspended the current requirements, and no formal extension exists at this stage.
The regulatory direction, however, is clear. The Department has publicly committed to amending the NHPR labelling amendments before 2028. It has also acknowledged that the current requirements present genuine implementation challenges. Companies with active label redesign projects should monitor the Canada Gazette closely for the spring 2027 pre-publication. The proposed transition period could affect both project timelines and investment decisions.
Digital Labelling as Part of the Solution
The bulletin reaffirms Health Canada’s interest in digital labelling. Manufacturers with complex formulations or extensive risk statements may want to explore how digital labelling could factor into their compliance approach under a revised framework.
Quality Smart Solutions advises clients to use this period to review their current labels against existing requirements. Identifying compliance gaps and documenting formatting challenges now will be valuable work regardless of how the new transition timeline takes shape. It also positions companies to respond quickly once the Department publishes the draft amendments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the May 2026 bulletin change the June 2028 NHP labelling deadline?
Not yet. The bulletin announces Health Canada’s intention to amend the Natural Health Products Regulations labelling requirements, but no formal extension has been issued. The current NHP labelling compliance deadline of June 21, 2028 remains in place under the Regulations Amending the Natural Health Products Regulations, registered June 21, 2022. Companies should continue preparing for that date unless and until a new compliance date is formally established through the Canada Gazette process.
When will the proposed NHPR labelling amendments be published for comment?
Health Canada has targeted spring 2027 for pre-publication of the draft regulations in the Canada Gazette, Part I. Pre-publication initiates a formal consultation period during which stakeholders can submit comments. The final regulations and any new NHP label transition period will be confirmed through that process. Companies wishing to participate in stakeholder consultation can contact Health Canada’s Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate directly.
My product has many ingredients and risk statements. Should I wait for the new regulations before updating my labels?
This is a common question, and the answer depends on your product’s current label status and licensing date. The Ministerial Exemption Order from March 2025 aligned newly licensed NHPs with the June 2028 compliance date, meaning all NHPs currently have until at least June 21, 2028 to comply with the amended NHPR labelling requirements. However, Health Canada has also encouraged early adoption where feasible. Companies facing genuine formatting challenges should document those challenges now, as the stakeholder engagement process that preceded this bulletin demonstrates that Health Canada is actively considering evidence-based flexibility measures.
Key Takeaways
- The June 21, 2028 NHP labelling compliance deadline remains in effect. No formal extension has been issued.
- Health Canada has publicly committed to amending the NHPR labelling requirements to make them more flexible, as part of its Red Tape Reduction commitments.
- Draft regulations are targeted for pre-publication in the Canada Gazette, Part I in spring 2027, and will include a new proposed transition period beyond June 2028.
- The new transition timeline will be determined through stakeholder consultation during the regulatory development process.
- Companies should continue compliance preparation now, and monitor the Canada Gazette for the spring 2027 pre-publication.
The Path Forward
This bulletin is a meaningful development for any company managing NHP label compliance in Canada, but it is not a signal to stand down. Health Canada has made its direction clear while leaving the precise timeline open. The practical window between now and the spring 2027 pre-publication is an opportunity to assess your current label compliance position, identify formatting constraints, and build a clear picture of what amendments you may need.
For companies that want to get ahead of the complexity, Quality Smart Solutions’ NHP label compliance and French translation services provide the technical review and strategic guidance needed to prepare under current requirements while staying positioned for whatever the amended framework brings. To discuss your specific situation, contact Quality Smart Solutions to speak with a regulatory specialist.
