Buying your health products on the Internet? Know the risks

What you should do

• Read the information Health Canada has posted on the dangers of buying drugs, natural health products or medical devices over the Internet.
• Look for health products that have been authorized by Health Canada. Authorized health products have an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN), Natural Product Number (NPN) or Homeopathic Medicine Number (DIN-HM). Consumers can also check whether products have been authorized for sale by searching Health Canada's Drug Product Database, Licensed Natural Health Products Database or Medical Devices Active Licence Listing (MDALL).
• Avoid buying health products from questionable or untrustworthy websites. Find out more about choosing a safe online pharmacy. If you have questions about whether an online pharmacy is legitimate, contact the pharmacy regulatory authority in your province or territory.
• Talk to a health care professional, such as a doctor or pharmacist, if you have questions or concerns about a health care product.
• Check Health Canada's Recalls and Safety Alerts database for advisories on illegal health products that have been found on the Canadian market. Health Canada maintains lists of unauthorized sexual enhancement products, skin lightening and other skin treatments, workout supplements and poppers that consumers can check regularly for updates.
• Report adverse events or complaints involving drugs, natural health products or medical devices, including illegal health products, to Health Canada.
• Related linksINTERPOL news releaseCounterfeit prescription drugsBuying drugs over the InternetChoosing a safe online pharmacyHow to spot an unsafe online storeSafe use of body building productsAdulteration of natural health productsBuying safe sexual enhancement productsThe safe use of health products for weight lossHealth Product InfoWatch – Online pharmacies: Marketing of drugs and medical devices