Who Can Prepare your NHP Promo Packs?

If you’ve ever had to apply for a Natural and Non-Prescription Health Products Directorate (or NNHPD) Site License, you’ll know that Health Canada has broken down the licensable activities into four categories: 

Manufacturing

Packaging

Labelling

Importing

Secondary co-packers (a.k.a. re-packers) are still involved in the supply chain when they help prepare the NHP items for retail by assembling them into multi-packs, for instance. Health Canada needs to be able to trace every step of an NHP until it hits retail shelves, so co-packers must prove their commitment to the practice of safety, cleanliness, and record keeping in their everyday activities.

The secondary packager’s activity within a site license is considered “Labelling”. Health Canada defines them as,

“…a firm (or business) that puts a natural health product, which is already packaged in its immediate container, into a secondary container. The secondary package is not in direct contact with the natural health product. For the purpose of site licensing, the secondary packager is considered a labeller.”

Once a co-packer obtains an NHP Site License, they are approved to put a pre-packaged NHP item into another packaging format. But doesn’t this already happen at the manufacturing phase?

Not necessarily.

Marketing teams may decide on a promotional strategy after manufacture that requires an extra touch before shipping off to retail. It is a common strategy for promoting higher sales. A few examples are:

• attaching a value-add/gift with purchase
• assembling special promotional packs
• assembling/loading cartons as multi-packs
• kitting
• assembling multi-packs with supported shrink wrapping.

The secondary co-packer must hold the site license and follow the relevant Good Manufacturing Guidelines and required Health Canada protocols and practices for these activities.

It is interesting to note that 71% of Canadians have used natural health products.

You can determine an authorized natural health product by locating an eight-digit Natural Product Number or NPN on the packaging. You can also search for it on Health Canada’s Licensed Natural Health Products Database (LNHPD).

Natural Health Products are often called “complementary” or “alternative” medicines. Health Canada’s web site lists category examples:

• vitamins and minerals
• herbal remedies
• homeopathic medicines
• traditional medicines like traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic (East Indian) medicines
• probiotics
• other products like amino acids and essential fatty acids

Certain types of consumer goods with specific health claims that have been authorized as natural health products too like:

• toothpastes
• antiperspirants
• shampoos
• facial products
• mouthwashes
• energy drinks
• waters
• juices with added vitamins and minerals
• yogurts
• bars

Don’t trust just any co-packer to work with your NHP. Be sure you source a licensed and trusted vendor.