Changes to process related to expiry of hand sanitizer interim measure

Drug Establishment Licensing Bulletin #74, February 16, 2023

Health Canada is announcing the expiry of the interim measure for hand sanitizers. As a result, we are making changes related to the importation and sale of hand sanitizers accepted under the COVID-19 interim measure.

On January 15, 2021, Health Canada stopped accepting new applications for hand sanitizers under this interim measure. We have, however, continued to allow products on the list to be imported and sold by companies that added them until further notice. We committed to providing 60-day advance notice before the interim measure for hand sanitizers expired.

Health Canada is implementing the following for hand sanitizers that were previously accepted under the interim measure:

• Importation of hand sanitizers previously accepted under the interim measure will be permitted until April 21, 2023.
• Distribution of these products will be permitted to retail facilities until August 18, 2023.
• Retail sale and use at the institutional level will be permitted until product in stock has been exhausted or has expired.

We wish to remind importers of hand sanitizers under the interim measure that they must meet the following labelling requirements:

• Packaging of imported product may be in French- or English-only, or English or French and another language. Importers must post the bilingual label text on their website, however. Their website should not contain any additional advertising or claims outside what is authorized for these products in the antiseptic skin cleanser monograph.
• Importers must provide sellers with a means to inform consumers, at time of sale, of where they can access bilingual information on the product. This could be made available through a sticker applied directly to the products, posters or signage with take-away pamphlets at point of sale.

Health Canada is committed to supporting the health and safety of people in Canada as we combat COVID-19. We will take enforcement action for any product found to have false or misleading claims or to pose a risk to health. This includes refusing shipments at the border and seizing products.

For reference, please refer to the following drug establishment licensing bulletins:

• March 17, 2020 (initial)
• March 19, 2020 (clarification)
• May 22, 2020 (additional clarification and requirements)
• October 8, 2020 (change in process)
• January 15, 2021 (change in process)
• April 1, 2021 (change in process)
• February 14, 2022 (additional clarification)