Understanding Canadian Pharmacy Regulations and Licensing

Verify a pharmacy’s license through Health Canada’s online database. This database provides crucial information, including the pharmacy’s registration status and contact details. Confirm their license is current and valid before ordering.

Look for the pharmacy’s physical address. Legitimate Canadian pharmacies operate from a physical location in Canada. Avoid online pharmacies that only provide a PO box or lack a verifiable address. This simple check helps avoid fraudulent operations.

Check for a pharmacist’s contact information. A licensed Canadian pharmacy always displays contact information for a registered pharmacist. This allows you to directly contact a qualified professional with questions or concerns.

Scrutinize the website for security measures. Secure websites use HTTPS, indicated by a padlock icon in the browser address bar. Look for seals from reputable organizations like the Canadian International Pharmacy Association (CIPA) – these are strong indicators of legitimacy.

Aspect What to Check
Licensing Health Canada’s online database; license number; expiry date
Address Physical street address; avoid PO boxes
Pharmacist Contact details of a registered pharmacist available on the site
Security HTTPS protocol; CIPA seal or similar verification

Report suspicious pharmacies to Health Canada. If you encounter a pharmacy that seems illegitimate, report it to the relevant authorities. This helps protect other potential customers from fraudulent activities.