title: Postmarket surveillance of natural health products in Canada: clinical and federal regulatory perspectives.
abstract: Postmarket surveillance, particularly adverse reactions (ARs), forms an integral part of the ongoing safety evaluation for natural health products (NHPs). ARs can be related to many factors, including inherent toxicity, misuse, hypersensitivity, NHP-drug interactions, or product quality. High consumer use and limited safety and efficacy data from human clinical trials for many NHPs present a challenge to consumers, healthcare practitioners, and federal regulators. Canada's Natural Health Products Regulations mandate NHPs to be licensed. As the currently available unauthorized NHPs are being brought into compliance in Canada, the transition has produced some challenges, requiring ongoing public communication and education to promote the safe use of NHPs. This article will highlight Health Canada's key postmarket initiatives in strengthening the regulation of NHPs.
authors: Health Canada, Marketed Biologicals, Biotechnology and Natural Health Products Bureau, Marketed Health Products Directorate, A/L 0701A, Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, ON K1A0K9, Canada. mano_murty@hc-sc.gc.ca
authors: Mano
authors: M
authors: Murty
mesh_terms: D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems; D001688:Biological Products; D002170:Canada; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D007880:Legislation, Drug; D011358:Product Surveillance, Postmarketing; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products