Since July 1, 2020, industry has been permitted to distribute certain non-prescription drugs and natural health products (NHPs) as samples, as a strategy to encourage trial use. This applies to specific low-risk products only, Section 14 of the Food and Drugs Act still prohibits general sample distribution outside of these permitted categories.
Who this affects:
- Industry stakeholders distributing eligible products as samples
- Practitioners and pharmacists who receive product samples
- Canadian consumers who receive samples directly
Which products qualify?
Health Canada maintains two official lists of products eligible for sample distribution:
List A: Natural Health Products approved for distribution as samples
List D: Non-prescription Drugs approved for distribution as samples
For full interpretation of the legislative requirements, Health Canada’s guidance document is available on request from the Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate (NNHPD).
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.
