Health Canada Details DIN Checks, CBSA Role in GLP-1 Advisory

Health Canada's public advisory on unauthorized and counterfeit GLP-1 receptor agonist products, last updated January 21, 2026, instructs Canadians to verify any prescription product by checking for an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN) on the label and searching Health Canada's Drug Product Database before purchase [Source: recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/thinking-about-buying-glp-1-drugs-ozempic-or-mounjaro-beware-fake-or-unauthorized].

What the advisory says

The advisory, identified as RA-81518 and published by Health Canada, states that the department has identified various retailers in Canada selling unauthorized GLP-1 products both in stores and online [Source: recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/thinking-about-buying-glp-1-drugs-ozempic-or-mounjaro-beware-fake-or-unauthorized]. It names semaglutide products including Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy, as well as tirzepatide products Mounjaro and Zepbound as the authorized GLP-1 brands in Canada [Source: recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/thinking-about-buying-glp-1-drugs-ozempic-or-mounjaro-beware-fake-or-unauthorized].

Health Canada notes that some websites and social media advertisements misuse official Health Canada logos and display fake endorsements to mislead consumers, and states that the department never endorses a health product and does not allow its logo to be used in the advertising or packaging of health products [Source: recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/thinking-about-buying-glp-1-drugs-ozempic-or-mounjaro-beware-fake-or-unauthorized].

Risks listed by the department

The advisory enumerates specific risks associated with unauthorized or counterfeit products, including:

• containing too much, too little, or none of the active ingredient [Source: recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/thinking-about-buying-glp-1-drugs-ozempic-or-mounjaro-beware-fake-or-unauthorized]
• containing unlisted, dangerous or unknown ingredients [Source: recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/thinking-about-buying-glp-1-drugs-ozempic-or-mounjaro-beware-fake-or-unauthorized]
• containing contaminants such as solvents, heavy metals, particles, or microbials [Source: recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/thinking-about-buying-glp-1-drugs-ozempic-or-mounjaro-beware-fake-or-unauthorized]
• being poorly or incorrectly labelled, or improperly manufactured or stored [Source: recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/thinking-about-buying-glp-1-drugs-ozempic-or-mounjaro-beware-fake-or-unauthorized]

Health Canada adds that unauthorized injectable products carry additional risks such as infections due to lack of sterility, allergic reactions, and other serious negative outcomes due to contamination, improper handling, or unsafe administration [Source: recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/thinking-about-buying-glp-1-drugs-ozempic-or-mounjaro-beware-fake-or-unauthorized].

Enforcement and border cooperation

The advisory states that selling unauthorized or counterfeit products, or making false or misleading claims, is illegal in Canada [Source: recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/thinking-about-buying-glp-1-drugs-ozempic-or-mounjaro-beware-fake-or-unauthorized]. Health Canada says it is actively monitoring the marketplace and continuing to take action such as seizures and the issuance of compliance or warning letters against the sale and advertisement of these products in stores and online [Source: recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/thinking-about-buying-glp-1-drugs-ozempic-or-mounjaro-beware-fake-or-unauthorized].

The department also says it is working closely with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to stop unauthorized shipments from entering the country [Source: recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/thinking-about-buying-glp-1-drugs-ozempic-or-mounjaro-beware-fake-or-unauthorized]. In Canada, only licensed pharmacies can legally sell prescription drugs, the advisory notes [Source: recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/thinking-about-buying-glp-1-drugs-ozempic-or-mounjaro-beware-fake-or-unauthorized].

Why the warning lands now

The advisory arrives as Canadian demand for GLP-1 products remains high. According to CBC News, Canadians currently pay anywhere from $300 to $500 per month for GLP-1 medications, including semaglutide brands such as Ozempic and Wegovy [Source: cbc.ca/news/health/ozempic-trumprx-cheaper-insurance-9.6970197]. Those figures sit within the price ranges currently tracked on GLP1Prices.ca, where listed Ozempic prices range from $215 to $663 and Wegovy from $270 to $550 in CAD.

CBC also reported that Ozempic has more than 200,000 country-wide beneficiaries on public drug plans, citing a federal report [Source: cbc.ca/news/health/ozempic-trumprx-cheaper-insurance-9.6970197]. Sustained demand, combined with online marketing that Health Canada says has misused its branding, underpins the department's renewed verification guidance.

What buyers are told to do

Health Canada's recommended steps for consumers are to buy prescription drugs only from licensed pharmacies, avoid unauthorized products, verify the eight-digit DIN, consult the Drug Product Database, and speak with a healthcare professional if an unauthorized product has been used [Source: recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/thinking-about-buying-glp-1-drugs-ozempic-or-mounjaro-beware-fake-or-unauthorized]. Suspected counterfeit or unauthorized products can be reported to Health Canada through its health product complaint process [Source: recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/thinking-about-buying-glp-1-drugs-ozempic-or-mounjaro-beware-fake-or-unauthorized].

Consumers comparing options can consult the GLP1Prices.ca insurance coverage checker, the generic semaglutide tracker, or the FAQ for additional context on licensed Canadian pharmacy options.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.