If you’re in the process of submitting a Class III Natural Health Product (NHP) application, or already have a submission in queue, there’s an important update shared by the Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate (NNHPD) on March 5, 2025 that could impact your timeline.
Due to a significant backlog of Class III applications that we’ve been experiencing for years, NNHPD is implementing a significant change – prioritization of certain applications. Instead of processing them on a first-come, first-served basis, they’ll now focus on applications for products that will be sold or manufactured in Canada within six months.
Moving forward, NNHPD will prioritize applications that meet at least one of these criteria:
- New applications for products that will be sold in Canada within six months of licensing.
- Amendments to already authorized NHPs, or licensed products that will be sold in Canada within six months of revision.
- Applications or amendments for products that are manufactured in Canada or will be within six months of licensing.
If your application doesn’t meet these criteria, it will still be reviewed—but only when resources allow. This leaves products not intended to be sold immediately at a disadvantage in terms of timelines. There were no comments on what the service standard will be for deprioritized products, but the NNHPD will aim to achieve the 210-day standard for prioritized products.
How can you ensure your product will be prioritized? You’ll need to submit a Workload Management Form. NNHPD has provided two different forms, depending on whether your application is new or already in the queue. Without this form, your submission will be deprioritized, meaning longer wait times. Through this form you are attesting to notifying the NNHPD when the product is sold to ensure this new system is not abused.
For full details and to access the official bulletin, visit NNHPD’s page here.
Important Dates
- For new applications and amendments submitted on March 5, 2025, and after, applicants will have 15 calendar days to submit their form after receiving their acknowledgement letter and submission number from the NNHPD.
- For applications and amendments submitted prior to March 5, 2025, applicants will have until May 1, 2025, to submit their form.
Key Takeaways
- If your product is intended for the Canadian market, you’ll get faster processing—but you must submit the required form for both products not submitted yet and those already in queue.
- Applications without the form will be pushed to the back of the line and reviewed only when possible.
- This change is meant to reduce backlog and ensure Canadian businesses and consumers benefit first.
If you’re planning to submit a Class III NHP application, act now to avoid unnecessary delays!
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