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

• Overview
• Guidance for industry on exceptional importation and sale of drugs
• Tier 3 drug shortages
• List of drugs for exceptional importation and sale

Exceptional import and sale of biocides

• Overview
• Guidance for industry on exceptional importation and sale of biocides
• List of biocides for exceptional importation and sale

Exceptional import and sale of medical devices

• Overview
• Guidance for industry on exceptional importation and sale of medical devices
• List of medical devices for exceptional importation and sale

Medical device shortage reporting

• Overview
• Guidance for industry on reporting medical device shortages
• List of medical devices that require shortage reporting
• List of medical device shortages
• Report a shortage
• Report the end of a shortage

Exceptional import and sale of foods for a special dietary purpose

• Overview
• Guidance for industry on exceptional importation and sale of foods for a special dietary purpose
• List of foods for a special dietary purpose for exceptional importation and sale