Cosmetic or drug: where Health Canada draws the line
Published October 26, 2026. Explainer based on Health Canada's own page, cited below.
Quick take: in Canada, a product that claims to change how the body works is treated as a drug, whatever the label says. Drug products carry a DIN or NPN.
The test
| Cosmetic | Drug |
|---|---|
| Cleans, improves or changes skin, hair, nails, teeth or complexion | Claims a therapeutic effect, such as preventing or treating disease |
| Examples: makeup, soap, shampoo, deodorant | Contains ingredients not permitted in cosmetics |
| No DIN needed | Label carries a DIN or NPN |
Why it matters for peptides
Health Canada says any claim to modify body functions makes a product a drug. So the words on a page matter as much as the ingredient. That is also why this site makes no effect claims. See what research use only means and the legal picture.
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Common questions
What makes a product a drug in Canada?
A therapeutic claim or an ingredient not permitted in cosmetics, per Health Canada.
How do I spot an authorized drug?
Its label carries a DIN or NPN.
Does a research label change this?
Not by itself, per law firm summaries.
Sources
Summarised in my own words. Read the originals for the full detail.