Interim Order to allow exceptional importation and sale to help prevent shortages in relation to COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has created an urgent need for drugs, biocides, medical devices and foods for a special dietary purpose, and affected their supply in Canada. To help prevent or alleviate shortages of these products, the Minister of Health has signed an interim order (IO). It allows products that may not fully meet Canadian regulatory requirements, but are manufactured to comparable standards, to be imported and sold using exceptional importation. The IO also makes it mandatory to report shortages of critical medical devices to Health Canada during the pandemic.

The Interim Order No. 2 Respecting Drugs, Medical Devices and Foods for a Special Dietary Purpose in Relation to COVID-19 was made on March 1, 2021. This IO repeals and replaces the Interim Order Respecting Drugs, Medical Devices and Foods for a Special Dietary Purpose in Relation to COVID-19 that the Minister of Health made on March 30, 2020. The new IO extends, clarifies and modifies certain measures from the first interim order. More information on the new IO is in its explanatory note.

Exceptional import and sale of drugs

Exceptional import and sale of biocides

Exceptional import and sale of medical devices

Medical device shortage reporting

Exceptional import and sale of foods for a special dietary purpose

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