Public Advisory - Stay safe when buying health products online

OTTAWA, ON, May 7, 2026 /CNW/ -  

Summary

• Product: Unauthorized health products, including drugs, natural health products and medical devices, sold online
• Issue: Health products – Product safety; Unauthorized health product
• What to do: If you buy health products online, buy them from a reputable website and check that they are authorized for sale by Health Canada. Report suspected illegal health products to Health Canada.

Issue

As part of Operation Pangea XVIII--an international effort led by INTERPOL to disrupt the online sale of counterfeit and other illegal health products around the world--Health Canada is reminding consumers to be careful when buying health products online.

During Operation Pangea, Health Canada continues to work with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canada Border Services Agency to stop counterfeit and other illegal health products from reaching the Canadian market.

During this year's two-week operation (March 10-23, 2026), Health Canada inspected 1,481 packages. Of these, 880 (59%) packages were blocked from entering the country and 56 (4%) additional packages that contained suspected counterfeit or otherwise unauthorized health products were seized. The non-compliant products were worth an estimated value of $1,353,829. 

The majority of the seized products were sexual enhancement products (57%), followed by sex hormones (13%), weight loss drugs (11%), vitamins (5%), cosmetic injectables (4%), pain relief medication (4%), skin care products (3%), medical devices (3%) and herbal products (less than 1%).

Through Operation Pangea, Health Canada also examined websites to address the sale of illegal health products to Canadians. Health products sold online may seem legitimate and safe, but some may not actually be authorized for sale in Canada and could be dangerous to your health. It is important to know how to spot risky health products if you are buying them online.

Unauthorized health products have not been assessed by Health Canada for safety, efficacy, and quality and, as a result, can pose serious risks to your health. For example, they may be fake, mislabeled or expired, or have been badly stored or subject to recalls. Unauthorized drugs or natural health products may have no active ingredients, the wrong ingredients, or dangerous additives such as prescription drugs not listed on the label. Unlicensed medical devices may be low quality, not work, or be unsafe.

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 links

Buying drugs online
Choosing a safe online pharmacy
Counterfeit prescription drugs
Risks of buying natural health products online
Buying medical devices from the internet
Buying safe sexual enhancement products
Safe use of bodybuilding products
Adulteration of natural health products
The safe use of health products for weight loss

SOURCE Health Canada (HC)

Media Enquiries: Health Canada, 613-957-2983, [email protected]; Public Enquiries: 613-957-2991, 1-866 225-0709, [email protected]