Notice to stakeholders: Application of INCI® names on NPD labelling

April 2024

In advance of a regulatory proposal amending the Food and Drug Regulations to simplify market access for non-prescription drug products, Health Canada has developed a Non-prescription Drug (NPD) Action Plan. This Action Plan advances the concepts of the Self-Care Framework to reduce burden where possible and to align the level of oversight of NPDs based on their level of risk. This Action Plan introduces policy and operational- based solutions to remove barriers for getting NPDs (excluding ethical drugs, controlled substances, and biocides) to market.

Through this notice, Health Canada is expanding the application of International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient (INCI®) naming for NPDs. Representation of both active and inactive ingredients using INCI® is permitted for the labelling of NPDs included in List D: List of Certain Non-prescription Drugs for Distribution as Samples. An INCI® name does not need to be listed in the NHPID for it to be used on NPD labelling. Sponsors are responsible for ensuring that the INCI® names used on product labelling accurately reflect the ingredients. Sponsors should continue to ensure that the ingredient is listed in NHPID. For additions or modifications to the NHPID, please fill in a Natural Health Products Ingredients Database Issue Form and send to ingredient_support@hc-sc.gc.ca.

Information Resources

• NHPID webpage
• Natural Health Products Ingredients Database Issue Form
• List D: List of Certain Non-prescription Drugs for Distribution as Samples
• Personal Care Products Council wINCI

Contact Information

Questions can be sent to:
E-Mail: nnhpd-dpsnso@hc-sc.gc.ca