Health Canada

This guidance document supports Interim Order No. 2 Respecting Drugs, Medical Devices and Foods for a Special Dietary Purpose in Relation to COVID-19 (Interim Order No. 2).

Health Canada works with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to assess the compliance of health products at the border. To ensure that CBSA and Health Canada can determine if health products meet requirements, shipments should include the necessary information.

Health Canada has developed this guidance document in order to support the Interim Order Respecting the Importation and Sale of Medical Devices for Use in Relation to COVID-19 pursuant to subsection 30.1(1) of the Food and Drugs Act. This Interim Order will allow the Department to issue expedited...

List of priority drugs currently having quantities placed in reserve to manage drug shortages for the treatment of COVID-19.

How to import and sell designated biocides, propose an addition to the list of biocides and regulatory requirements for selling designated biocides.

There is an unprecedented demand and urgent need for access to biocides during the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 1, 2021, the Minister of Health signed Interim Order No. 2 Respecting Drugs, Medical Devices and Foods for a Special Dietary Purpose in relation to COVID-19. The interim order (IO)...

Health Canada issues Medical Device Establishment Licences (MDELs) to companies that import, distribute or manufacture Class I devices, and importers and distributors of Class II, III and IV devices. Establishments that do not respond to Health Canada's requests or provide the requested documents...

Medical devices that are eligible for importation and sale under the interim order (IO) are known as “designated” devices. They are included in the list of medical devices for exceptional importation and sale.

Once a device is placed on the list, establishments must notify Health Canada at least 5 calendar days before the day on which the device is imported.

Information about a medical device must be available and in a form that is accessible to users, to ensure it is used safely.

List of terms used in the guidance document.

This guidance document is intended to help importers, distributors, manufacturers and other establishments meet their regulatory requirements.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to take a risk-based approach to inspections.

Briefing binder for the Minister of Health’s appearances on the Main Estimates 2020-2021

Briefing binder for the Minister of Health’s appearances at the Standing Committee on Health (SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES (B) 2020-2021)

Health Canada has answered questions about access to controlled substances at the federal, provincial and territorial government levels. The answers may help health care providers better understand care options during the COVID-19 pandemic for patients who use drugs.

High-level description of when patients, practitioners and pharmacists are exempt from some sections of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

This toolkit provides information to support health care providers to understand their options in providing care for their patients who use drugs during the pandemic.

Targeted actions to reduce the risk of harm for people who use substances during the pandemic.

Between 2018 and 2020, Health Canada has issued a number of exemptions to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Some of the exemptions have been issued to maintain Canadians' access to controlled substances during the COVID-19 pandemic.