Sept 25, 2026 · Novae Supplements · 2min Reading
Almost every supplement sold in Canada carries an eight-digit Natural Product Number (NPN), which shows Health Canada reviewed it before it reached the shelf (Health Canada, 2022). We make products that must obtain a NPN and wanted to explain why it is required and why getting one is taking longer than usual.
What counts as a natural health product?
Most health supplements sold in Canada, such as vitamins, minerals and herbal products, count as natural health products (NHPs) and must be approved by Health Canada before they can be sold (Artixio, 2026). Since 2004, Health Canada has issued more than 91,000 NHP licenses (Office of the Auditor General of Canada, 2021). Supplements like athletic gummies, are some of these 91,000 NHP licenses.
How the licensing process works
Companies must send Health Canada details about each product's ingredients, dose and intended use, and if it is found safe, effective and high quality, it receives a license and an NPN (Health Canada, 2022). Applications are sorted by risk into Class I, II or III, with target review times of 60, 90 and 210 days (Quality Smart Solutions, 2024), where the class III products are the most complex.
Why every company in Canada has to follow it
All natural health products must have a license before they can be sold in Canada, and every health claim on labels and in ads must match what that license allows (Artixio, 2026). Since 2023, Health Canada can also order recalls and label changes, and fines for breaking the rules can reach $5 million (Huncar, 2023).
Why licenses are taking longer right now
Many NPN applications were submitted during COVID-19 which built a lingering backlog. As of a 2025 update only 57% of Class III applications were meeting the 210-day target (Quality Smart Solutions, 2025). Since March 2025, Health Canada has put products that will be sold in Canada within six months first in line, yet complex Class III products can still take seven months to two years (Canadian Natural Health Product Registry, 2026).
What this means for you
Before you buy, check the label for an NPN or look the product up in Health Canada's licensed products database (Health Canada, n.d.). All Novae athletic gummies have passed the NPN process before reaching the shelves. This process takes time, but helps to ensure the consumer receives a quality supplement.
