CanadaUnauthorized health products sold online — including drugs, natural health products and medical devices — are affected; check for an eight‑digit Drug Identification Number (DIN), Natural Product Number (NPN) or Homeopathic Medicine Number (DIN‑HM) or search Health Canada’s Drug Product Database, Licensed Natural Health Products Database or Medical Devices Active Licence Listing to confirm authorization. Health Canada warns these products have not been assessed for safety, efficacy or quality and may be fake, mislabeled, expired, badly stored, have wrong or dangerous ingredients; during Operation Pangea (March 10–23, 2026) inspectors examined 1,481 packages, blocking 880 and seizing 56 valued at about $1,353,829. Avoid questionable websites, talk to a health professional if you have concerns, and report adverse events or complaints to Health Canada.
How to identify it
Unauthorized health products, including drugs, natural health products and medical devices, sold online
The hazard
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 to 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.
The official notice
This page is a summary of the notice published by Health Canada, collected from Health Canada, CFIA and Transport Canada. Check the original before you act on it.
Read the official notice (opens in a new tab)