Canada has made wide-ranging amendments to the Food and Drug Regulations (FDR) and the Medical Devices Regulations (MDR). The amendments are intended to deliver on Health Canada’s modernization commitments, codify long-standing policies and practices, and implement
Food and drug regulations
Drug shortages: New requirements proposed for the Food and Drug Regulations
Health Canada has proposed additional regulations intended to prevent, mitigate, and respond to drug shortages. The proposed amendments to the Food and Drug Regulations (Regulations) include new requirements for drug market authorization holders to develop shortage prevention and…
Dormant drug status can trigger generic access to an alternate Canadian Reference Product



On January 26, 2024, Health Canada published a Notice concerning its application of the definition of Canadian Reference Product (CRP) in the Food and Drug Regulations (Regulations). The Notice advises that if an innovative drug is…
Florida approved to import Canadian prescription drugs



On January 5, 2024, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Florida’s proposal to import prescription drugs from Canada. This is the first approval of a Section 804 Importation Program (SIP) by the FDA. Whether…
Health Canada releases updated Certificate of Supplementary Protection guidance



On May 12, 2023, Health Canada announced the release of an updated version of the Guidance Document: Certificates of Supplementary Protection (CSP Guidance). The CSP Guidance was revised to reflect amendments to the definition of “authorization for sale”…
Health Canada’s proposed amendments to the Food and Drug Regulations and the Medical Devices Regulations


On July 31, 2021, Health Canada published a Notice of Intent outlining its plan to amend the Food and Drug Regulations (FDR) and the Medical Devices Regulations in the spring of 2022. The proposed amendments are intended to…
Health Canada consults on transition of interim order drugs, vaccines, and medical devices to permanent approval pathways


As we have previously reported, the Minister of Health (Minister) approved the Interim Order Respecting the Importation, Sale and Advertising of Drugs for Use in Relation to COVID-19 (Interim Order for Drugs and Vaccines) on September…
Health Canada amends regulations to permit distribution of OTC and NHP samples to general public


Health Canada has finalized amendments to the Food and Drug Regulations (FDR) and Natural Health Product Regulations (NHPR) to allow for the distribution of samples of non-prescription drugs (NPDs, or “over-the-counter” (OTC)…
Proposed regulations published on additional elements of Vanessa’s Law

On April 22, 2017, the Government of Canada published draft regulations Amending the Food and Drug Regulations (Vanessa’s Law) that provide details regarding the minister of health’s powers to require tests, assessments and studies of a drug post-market authorization. The…
Health Canada proposes regulations allowing importation of drugs not yet available in Canada for an urgent public health need

Health Canada has proposed regulations that will amend the Food and Drug Regulations to allow for importation of drugs that have not yet received regulatory approval from Health Canada. The new regulations will provide access to drugs that address an
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