Quebec is Canada's second-largest supplement market and unique for its predominantly French-speaking population. Quebec consumers are highly engaged with natural health products, and French-language labeling and marketing are essential for success.
Strong preference for natural health products, high usage of herbals and botanicals, trust in Health Canada's NPN system, family-oriented purchasing
Unique market requiring French engagement, strong pharmacy channel (Jean Coutu, Pharmaprix), less Amazon penetration than English Canada
Regulated by: Health Canada (federal jurisdiction) + Quebec regulations + Office québécois de la langue française
Quebec's Charter of the French Language (Bill 101) requires French text to be at least as prominent as English on all labels. French must appear first or be more prominent. This is stricter than federal bilingual requirements.
Quebec has QST (Quebec Sales Tax) of 9.975% plus federal GST of 5%, totaling 14.975% combined. Separate registration required for both.
Successful Quebec marketing requires French-language content, not just translation. Quebec consumers strongly prefer brands that authentically engage with French language and culture.
Expert French-language label design and compliance
Understanding of Quebec's unique regulatory requirements (Bill 101)
NPN applications with Quebec market considerations
Connections to Quebec-based distributors and retailers
French and English bilingual team support
Products typically ship to Montreal-area distribution centers. Typical shipping from US manufacturers: 3-5 business days. Quebec has strong retail pharmacy network for distribution.
French-language labeling must be culturally appropriate, not just translated
Quebec consumers prefer to buy from brands that engage authentically in French
Separate sales tax system (QST + GST) adds compliance complexity
Different retail landscape than English Canada
Marketing and customer service must be available in French
For the Canadian market, expect 6-12 months for NPN approval plus 4-6 weeks for manufacturing and quality testing. Total time from concept to market entry: 8-14 months. Our 92% NPN approval rate and expert guidance helps you avoid delays. We also offer expedited pathways where possible. For US market-only products (white label), you can launch in 4-6 weeks.
Our minimum order quantity is 1,000 units regardless of market. Most manufacturers require 5,000-10,000 units, but our low MOQ approach lets you test the Quebec market without massive upfront investment. This is especially valuable when entering a new geographic market.
For the Canadian market, expect $11,000-18,000 total for your first 1,000 units, which includes: base manufacturing ($8,000-12,000), NPN application ($2,500-5,000), and bilingual label design (+$300-500). The NPN is a one-time cost per formulation. Subsequent production runs only incur manufacturing costs. <a href="/contact" class="text-mint-600 hover:text-mint-700 underline">Contact us</a> for a detailed quote.
No - NPNs are federal (Health Canada) approvals that are valid across all Canadian provinces and territories. Once you have an NPN, you can sell your product anywhere in Canada. However, you must comply with federal bilingual labeling requirements (English and French) regardless of which province you're selling in.
We specialize in the Canadian market with a 92% NPN approval rate (far exceeding industry average). Our team understands Health Canada's requirements inside and out, from ingredient monographs to evidence standards to bilingual labeling. We've successfully obtained NPNs across all major supplement categories and can guide you through the entire process. Many manufacturers only serve the US - we're experts in both markets.
We're a full-service supplement partner, not just a manufacturer. Our services include: custom formulation, white label and private label, manufacturing coordination with GMP-certified facilities, third-party quality testing, <a href="/services/npn-applications" class="text-mint-600 hover:text-mint-700 underline">NPN applications</a> for Health Canada, bilingual label design, label compliance review, fulfillment services, and marketing support. We handle everything from concept to customer delivery.
Our expert team will guide you through the entire process - from formulation to NPN approval to manufacturing to market entry. Get started with Canada's leading supplement manufacturing partner.