Self-care is about taking care of yourself, and making choices that help your physical and mental health, like eating healthy, getting enough sleep and exercising. The date chosen for International Self-Care Day (7/24) is a reminder that self-care is important to lifelong health, and its benefits are experienced 7 days a week, and 24 hours a day.
Canadians also use self-care products every day to maintain their health, treat minor ailments or for their appearance. Self-care products are available without a prescription and fall into three broad categories: cosmetics, natural health products, and non-prescription drugs. Products include vitamins, pain relievers, and sunscreen.
In the two-and-a-half years since the launch of the public consultation on the Self-Care Framework, Health Canada has made significant progress towards updating its approach to the way self-care products are regulated in Canada.
Labels are an important tool to assist Canadians in making informed decisions when using self-care products. Last month, the Department published a guidance document for consultation on proposed amendments that would make labels on natural health products more legible, clear, and easier to understand for Canadians. These proposed changes would mean that packages would present information in a standardized format and will better support consumers in selecting and safely using a self-care product.
