Legal status · Canada
Is Bergamot legal in Canada?
Written by Aaron CuhaReviewed Sep 2026
Direct answer
Bergamot can be sold in Canada as a supplement or cosmetic ingredient, classified as "Sold as a supplement". That is not drug approval: Health Canada has not evaluated any health claim, and injectable or "research use only" versions fall outside supplement rules, so that label does not make human use lawful. On the evidence, no human study is cited on its profile.
Bergamot in Canada at a glance
| Classification | Sold as a supplement |
|---|---|
| Health Canada approval status | Not a Health Canada drug approval; sold as a supplement or cosmetic |
| Human studies cited | 0 of 1 citations on the profile |
| Reviewed | Sep 2026 |
Classification and note come from the Bergamot profile, checked against Health Canada, Health Products and Food Branch (Health Canada) listings at the reviewed date.
What this means
- 01
Bergamot can be sold in Canada as a supplement, food or cosmetic ingredient under the classification above, without drug approval.
- 02
Supplement status means Health Canada has not evaluated any health claim; manufacturers are responsible for safety and labeling, and quality varies by product.
- 03
Injectable or "research use only" versions are not supplements. That label does not make human use lawful, and injectables fall under medicines rules.
What Bergamot is
Fourteen randomised trials show large lipid changes, including LDL down 55 mg/dL. The effect sizes are implausibly large for a food extract, the trials are small and regionally concentrated, and no outcome trial exists.
Bergamot is a citrus fruit whose polyphenol extract has a randomised literature on blood lipids, and the honest reading of that literature is that it is both real and hard to believe. 7 mg/dL.
Mechanism: The bergamot polyphenolic fraction is rich in flavanones, notably brutieridin and melitidin, which carry a side chain structurally similar to the statin pharmacophore. That has led to the hypothesis of partial HMG-CoA reductase inhibition, which would make it a weak statin rather than a generic antioxidant.
Regulatory history: Sold as a dietary supplement. Not approved to treat dyslipidaemia or anything else.
How Health Canada treats this kind of product
Authorises drugs for sale through a Notice of Compliance and Drug Identification Number. A compound that is not authorised for sale cannot lawfully be sold for human use, and personal importation of prescription drugs is limited.
The classification above is the The Longevity Archive reading of Health Canada, Health Products and Food Branch listings for Bergamot at the reviewed date, not a legal opinion. Rules change, and importing, prescribing and possessing a compound can each be treated differently. Check the regulator directly before acting on anything here.
Bergamot in other countries
Frequently asked questions
Is Bergamot legal in Canada?
Bergamot can be sold in Canada as a supplement or cosmetic ingredient, classified as "Sold as a supplement". That is not drug approval: Health Canada has not evaluated any health claim, and injectable or "research use only" versions fall outside supplement rules, so that label does not make human use lawful. On the evidence, no human study is cited on its profile.
Can I buy Bergamot in Canada?
Yes, in supplement or cosmetic form. In Canada Bergamot is classified as "Sold as a supplement", so oral, topical or cosmetic products can be sold under supplement rules. Injectable versions and products labeled "research use only" are not supplements and are not approved for human use.
Is Bergamot Health Canada approved?
No. In Canada Bergamot is classified as "Sold as a supplement", which is not a Health Canada marketing approval. For comparison, the US FDA status is: Sold as a dietary supplement. Not approved to treat dyslipidaemia or anything else.. On the evidence, no human study is cited on its profile.
Related compounds in Canada
Full research profile
Mechanism, cited studies, FDA status and the full legal summary for Bergamot live on its compound profile.
Bergamot profileThis page is general information about the regulatory status of Bergamot in Canada, current as of Sep 2026. It is not legal advice, and classifications change; check Health Canada, Health Products and Food Branch directly or consult a lawyer for a specific situation. Educational use only. This database summarizes published research. It is not medical advice and contains no dosing protocols or recommendations for personal use. The Longevity Archive has no vendor relationships and does not recommend where to buy anything.