Labelling Exemption for Newly Licensed NHPs

Summary#

The federal government issued the Exemption Order in Respect of Labelling Requirements for Certain Natural Health Products: SOR/2025-94 under the Food and Drugs Act. It lets newly licensed natural health products use the older label rules instead of the new labelling rules until mid‑2028, as long as they meet the old rules when sold.

What it does#

• Exempts natural health products that get a product licence on or after the day this Order comes into force from having to meet the new labelling requirements in the Natural Health Products Regulations, provided they are labelled according to the old rules when sold.
• The exemption does not apply to products sold to a manufacturer or distributor (labels are not required for those sales).
• The Order comes into force on June 21, 2025 (or on the registration day if registered later).
• The Order is set to be repealed on June 21, 2028. After that, newly licensed products must meet the new labelling rules as of June 22, 2028.

Who's affected#

• Producers, importers and sellers of natural health products — especially companies that will licence new products between June 21, 2025 and June 21, 2028.
• Small businesses in the natural health product sector that were worried about fitting new information onto labels.
• Consumers who buy over‑the‑counter natural health products.
• Health Canada, which regulates and enforces the labelling rules and will continue to engage with industry.

Why it matters#

• It gives companies more time to adjust to new label rules. That may keep more products available on store shelves in the short term.
• It delays some consumer benefits of the new rules (for example, clearer allergen or warning displays) until after June 21, 2028, which could increase the chance of hard‑to‑read or less informative labels for new products sold in the interim.
• Health Canada says the Order responds to industry concerns about guidance clarity, label space, and readability. The department plans further engagement and guidance work during the extension period.