The essential criteria for choosing a reliable natural health product
The importance of Health Canada licensing
A good natural product should come from a company that has its Health Canada license. Ask, because you won't see this information on the bottle. The natural health retailer should be able to answer you. The manufacturer of the natural health product must have a customer service department that allows you to verify this information, to find out about its compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and its certifications (ISO for example).
Good manufacturing practices and certifications
Since 2010, natural health products sold in Canada have had their natural health product number (NPN) registered with Health Canada.
Companies must be able to scientifically support the therapeutic claims associated with their products in order to obtain these numbers (NPN). Obtaining constitutes for the moment proof that the quality of the natural health product we are talking about.
The natural health product number (NPN)
This willingness of the manufacturer to comply also demonstrates that it has sufficient scientifically acceptable evidence of the activity of its natural health product to hope to obtain its NPN. The label of a good natural health product should always provide indications, dosage, warnings and contraindications. This is a minimum that any conscientious and well-informed manufacturer about their product must indicate on the label.
The scientificity of therapeutic claims
The list of all active and non-medicinal ingredients contained in the product must appear on the label which should also stipulate the presence or absence of the main allergens in its product (dairy products, wheat, etc.). Obviously, the product should also be properly sealed. A little tip... Before purchasing a natural health product, compare the product with two or three equivalent products from its competitors and ask the retailer and, if necessary, the manufacturer, about the labeling, the container (which should generally protect the product from light), etc.
Complete and compliant labeling
This process may be a little difficult at first, but it will quickly allow you to identify a few good manufacturers who you can later trust.
Good selection!