The waiting time to receive your NPN can be frustrating. How long has it been since you submitted your license application? Seems like months and then you receive a rejection notice! Wasted time that translates to financial loss. We can help to isolate areas of your application that may have caused the rejection notice.
The process: First we submit your completed application package. Then the Acknowledgement Letter (ACK) arrives; usually within 1 month. Nowadays we are waiting about 2 months. Once the ACK is received, the waiting period begins. Each Class has a different waiting period.
- Class I applications (Compendial) are taking 2 months
- Class II applications (all ingredients are precleared) can be about 4 months
- Class III submissions (at least one ingredient not precleared) are usually around 6 months or longer before the NPN is issued
The good news is that Health Canada is working hard to shorten the time you have to wait.
In the meantime, you could receive an Information Request Notice (IRN) which is a time-sensitive letter, and needs to be addressed immediately otherwise a rejection will be issued.We can track these notices or you, and respond to them to meet the deadline.
So many details to keep track of. That’s where we come in. Call us, leave your license application to us so you can get back to more important business matters.
Linda Beach is the founder, sole owner, and Director of Canadian Natural Health Product Registry (CNHPR), operating under Medical Botany Research. Based on Canada’s west coast, Linda has been providing regulatory consulting and compliance expertise to Canadian and international companies since 2004, when Canada’s Natural Health Products Regulations first came into effect.
A Certified Herbalist with a degree in Botany and Medical Research, Linda also holds certifications in several natural and complementary healing modalities. This combination of scientific training and hands-on herbal expertise gives her a unique perspective on the products she helps bring to market — from vitamins and herbal remedies to nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and sports supplements.
Over her two decades working directly with Health Canada, Linda has built strong working relationships with regulators that have translated into consistent success in securing Natural Product Numbers (NPNs) for her clients. Her advocacy work has had industry-wide impact — including playing a key role in Health Canada’s decision to reinstate hempseed oil to its approved ingredient database after it had been removed, restoring a path to market for products containing the ingredient.
Through CNHPR, Linda guides clients through every stage of the licensing process: developing a tailored regulatory strategy, compiling required documentation, and managing submissions from signing through to Health Canada approval.
