Stay safe when buying health products online

What you should do

Read the information Health Canada has posted on the dangers of buying drugs, natural health products or medical devices online.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.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 product.Check Health Canada's Recalls and Safety Alerts database for advisories on illegal health products that have been found on the Canadian market.Report adverse events or complaints involving drugs, natural health products or medical devices, including illegal health products, to Health Canada.Related linksBuying drugs onlineChoosing a safe online pharmacyCounterfeit prescription drugsRisks of buying natural health products onlineBuying medical devices from the internetBuying safe sexual enhancement productsSafe use of bodybuilding productsAdulteration of natural health productsThe safe use of health products for weight loss