Health Canada is warning consumers that unauthorized health products such as pharmaceutical and biological drugs, natural health products including homeopathic medicines and medical devices being sold online could pose a danger to their health.
The federal health agency has been working with the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) to disrupt online sales of counterfeit health products and illegal health products. It could include products being offered from online pharmacies, social media sites and marketplaces.
Products sold online may seem to be “legitimate and safe,” but Health Canada says some may not be authorized for sale in this country.
The agency evaluates all health products before they’re licensed in Canada. Health products are regulated under the federal Food and Drugs Act. In addition to some health products being unauthorized or counterfeit, they could contain incorrect components, foreign materials, particulate matter, have labelling errors or be subject to violations under the Act.
“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, badly stored, mislabeled, expired or subject to recalls,” states the agency in a June 25 news release. “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 might be low quality, may not work or may be unsafe.”
Health Canada is working with INTERPOL on Operation Pangea XVII, a worldwide INTERPOL-led operation to disrupt the online sale of counterfeit medicines and other illegal health products. As part of Operation Pangea, Health Canada also works with the RCMP and Canada Border Services Agency to detect and stop counterfeit and illegal health products from entering Canada.
“During this year’s five-month Operation (December 16, 2024, to May 16, 2025), Health Canada inspected 19,193 packages. Of these, it stopped 7,096 (37%) packages from entering the country and seized 539 (3%) additional packages at the border that contained suspected counterfeit or otherwise unauthorized health products, worth an estimated total value of $378,170,” said Health Canada. “The vast majority of the seized products were sexual enhancement medications (69%), followed by supplements such as herbal and dietary supplements (10%), veterinary and antiparasitic drugs (4%), hormones (2%), antibiotics (2%) and weight loss drugs (1%).”
INTERPOL reported that it had made a record 769 arrests and seized $65 million worth of illicit pharmaceuticals over the course of the five-month operation.
“Operation Pangea XVII … saw the arrest of 769 suspects and the dismantling of 123 criminal groups worldwide. The seizures and arrests are the largest in the operation’s 17-year history,” said INTERPOL in a June 25 news release. “Nervous system agents, including psychostimulants, anti-anxiety drugs, and medications for Parkinson’s disease, topped the list as the most seized product type, with erectile dysfunction medicines, the second highest. Other commonly seized product types include anabolic steroids, anti-diabetic medicines, anti-smoking products, dermatological agents, health supplements, herbal products and psychotherapeutic agents.”
INTERPOL said there’s a growing demand for anti-diabetic medications [which have off-label weight-loss effects] and peptide supplements, in particular, which is being driven by factors such as a desire to self-medicate and the widespread promotion of these products across social media platforms and online marketplaces. That creates lucrative and low-risk opportunities for criminal networks.
David Caunter, INTERPOL’s director pro tempore of organized and emerging crime, said fake and unapproved medications are a “serious risk” to the public’s health.
“They can include dangerous or illegal ingredients potentially resulting in severe illness or even death,” he said. “The rapid growth of online platforms has made it easier for these unsafe drugs to reach people, as well as opening new opportunities for criminal networks to exploit.”
Health Canada advises that if consumers choose to buy products online, they should check that the products have been authorized for sale by Health Canada and to purchase them from reputable websites.
The public can also visit Health Canada’s Recalls and Safety Alerts webpage for regular 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,” said the agency.
People are encouraged to contact Health Canada to report illegal or suspect health products, as well as adverse reactions to products.
