Biocides

About biocides

As defined in the Biocides Regulations (regulations) under the Food and Drugs Act, biocides are drugs that are used to destroy or inactivate micro-organisms or reduce or control their number on a non-living and non-liquid surface. They help to prevent micro-organisms from spreading and reduce health risks. In other words, biocides are surface disinfectants and sanitizers.

Biocides come in formats that can be ready to use or that require mixing with water first.

There are biocides for different settings, for example:

health care facilities
- such as in patient care areas and on non-invasive medical equipment
food premises
- such as on countertops and cutting boards
animal housing areas
- such as in veterinary clinics and poultry plants
institutional settings
- such as in daycares, schools and office buildings
household areas
- such as in kitchens and bathrooms

Some biocides should only be used by trained professionals.

Biocides do not include products that are used:

in air or water
on contact lenses
on invasive or indirectly invasive medical devices or
exclusively on the surface of food

Using biocides safely

Heath Canada only authorizes a biocide for sale if its benefits outweigh its risks, taking into account related uncertainties. This does not mean that biocides are free of risk. Risks may include:

unwanted side effects, like allergic reactions
improper storage, leading to unintentional exposure to children
interactions with other chemical products like cleaners
manufacturing problems
- like contamination, incorrect ingredients or dosage

Take these steps to minimize your risk:

Only use approved products.
Read and follow all instructions on the product label.
Keep biocides and other health or chemical products out of reach of children.
Never use a biocide at the same time as other chemical products such as cleaners, unless the products are specifically labelled for use together.
Never use these products on human or animal skin or internally as this could cause serious harm.
- for example, do not swallow or inject these products

Learn more:

You should report any side effects to your health care provider and to Health Canada.

Reporting side effects helps us:

identify rare or serious side effects
make changes in product safety information
issue public warnings and advisories and
remove unsafe products from the Canadian market

Report a side effect

How biocides were authorized prior to May 31, 2025

Prior to May 31, 2025, biocides were authorized separately as surface disinfectants and surface sanitizers under the Food and Drug Regulations (FDR) or the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA), respectively.

An authorized surface disinfectant has an 8-digit number, a drug identification number (DIN), that follow the letters "DIN" on its label if the Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate (NNHPD) has authorized the product under the FDR.

A surface sanitizer has a registration number on its label if the Pest Management Regulatory Agency has registered the product under the PCPA. The number will appear on the label as:Registration No. (assigned registration number) Pest control products act or
Reg. No. (assigned registration number) P.C.P. Act

Surface disinfectants and surface sanitizers authorized prior to May 31, 2025 are listed in these databases:

Pesticide Product Information Database for sanitizers registered under the PCPA
Drug Product Database for disinfectants authorized under the FDR

How biocides are regulated as of May 31, 2025

The way surface disinfectants and surface sanitizers are regulated in Canada has changed. The Biocides Regulations were registered on May 31, 2024, and published in the Canada Gazette, Part II on June 19, 2024. The regulations introduce a single regulatory framework in Canada for biocides under the Food and Drugs Act and came into force on May 31, 2025.

Under these regulations, biocides include both surface disinfectants and surface sanitizers. Biocides must undergo a pre-market assessment with the NNHPD and be issued a market authorization before they can be imported, sold or advertised in Canada. As part of the pre-market assessment, we require that an application be filed for a market authorization, which includes detailed information on the biocide's safety, efficacy and quality.

Through this pre-market assessment, the Minister of Health (the Minister) must issue a market authorization, in accordance with section 11 of the regulations, if the:

application meets the applicable requirements set out in section 10 or 26 of the regulations, as the case may be
applicant has provided the Minister with any additional information and material that's requested under subsection 10(4) or 26(5) of the regulations
Minister has sufficient evidence to support the conclusion that the biocide's benefits outweigh its risks, taking into account any uncertainties relating to the benefits and risks and
Minister has reasonable grounds to believe that the biocide will be packaged and labelled in accordance with the Food and Drugs Act and the regulations

NNHPD will assign an 8-digit identification number to a biocide that has been issued a market authorization. This identification number must appear on the label and indicates it has been authorized for sale.

Inspectors will monitor and enforce the compliance of biocides with the Food and Drugs Act and the regulations through post-market regulatory activities. The Regulatory Operations and Enforcement Branch (ROEB) oversees these activities.

As well, the Marketed Health Products Directorate (MHPD):

monitors and assesses the benefits and risks of marketed health products
communicates those risks to health care providers and the public
reviews and analyses post-market data and information received for biocides to determine if there are any changes to the safety profile of these products
develops risk management strategies to mitigate the identified risks when needed

Learn more about MHPD, ROEB and NNHPD:

The transition of previously authorized biocides as of May 31, 2025

A surface disinfectant that has been assigned a DIN under the FDR must transition to the biocides framework by the end of a 4-year transition period (by May 31, 2029). This can be achieved by filing a transition application with reduced application requirements and no cost recovery fee. The same 8-digit identification number will be issued as the sequence of numbers used for your DIN under the FDR.

A surface sanitizer registered under the PCPA must also transition to the biocides framework by the end of a 4-year transition period (by May 31, 2029). This can be achieved by filing a transition application with reduced application requirements and no cost recovery fee. A new 8-digit identification number will be issued to replace the pest control product registration number.

For more information on transitioning a disinfectant or surface sanitizer, consult:

Guidance on the transition of disinfectants and surface sanitizers to the Biocides Regulations

New biocide authorizations as of May 31, 2025

Applicants that submit an application for a new market authorization for a biocide as of May 31, 2025, must meet the requirements in the Biocides Regulations.

This includes surface sanitizers for use in food premises, which must obtain a biocide market authorization through a new application pathway by the end of a 6-year transition period (by May 31, 2031) to continue to be sold, advertised, or imported.

For more information on submitting a new application for a surface sanitizer for use in food premises, consult:

Guidance on the transition of disinfectants and surface sanitizers to the Biocides Regulations

For more information on obtaining a market authorization for a new biocide, consult:

Guidance on the transition of disinfectants and surface sanitizers to the Biocides Regulations

Food processing aid uses as of May 31, 2025

While food processing aid uses (such as application to the surface of food, for example, fruit and vegetable washes) may be listed on biocide labels, they are not reviewed by NNHPD as part of the premarket assessments required for market authorization.

Biocides with food processing aid uses, like any other substance used in manufacturing or processing food, must comply with section 4 of the Food and Drugs Act, which in part prohibits the sale of a food that contains a poisonous or harmful substance or is adulterated.

For more information on substances used directly on the surface of food, see the Food Processing Aids website from the Food and Nutrition Directorate.

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Date modified:: 2025-05-28

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