Updates for cannabis and industrial hemp
From Health Canada
This page allows you to view the most recent updates for the cannabis and industrial hemp industry.
| Title | Date | Description | Type of licence | Type of cannabis product | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Changes to labelling requirements for cannabis topicals | 2024-04-30 | On April 24, 2024, Health Canada published amendments to modernize the Cosmetic Regulations which include amendments to the Cannabis Regulations related to cosmetic ingredient labelling requirements for cannabis topical products. Section 8 of the Packaging and labelling guide for cannabis products has been updated to reflect this change and will come into force on October 9, 2024. | (Any) all licence holders | Topicals | Cannabis Regulations Legislation and regulations Packaging and labelling |
| New guide on importing and exporting cannabis | 2024-03-19 | This document provides guidance to cannabis licence holders on how to apply for an import or export permit in the Cannabis Tracking and Licensing System (CTLS) and manage their permit. Licence holders will find information on how to obtain an import or export permit, how to manage a permit, how to request a permit change, reporting requirements and permit application refusals. |
|
Any | Import or export permits |
| Program update: Physical security measures guide for cannabis web pages | 2024-03-05 | Health Canada is releasing updated web pages on physical security measures for all cannabis licences. These pages have been updated to help clarify the physical security requirements and provide principles and practices for how licence holders and applicants can comply. All previous versions of the guide should no longer be used. | (Any) all licence holders |
Any | Cannabis Regulations |
| 2024 to 2025 Annual cannabis licence fees update | 2024-02-20 | Health Canada has published the 2024 to 2025 annual updates to cannabis transactional fees in the Canada Gazette, Part I. Transactional fees for fees related to application screening, security clearances and import and export permits are adjusted annually on April 1, as per the Cannabis Fees Order. They will be increasing by 4.4%, in line with Statistics Canada’s 2023 Consumer Price Index. | Standard processing licence Micro-processing licence Standard cultivation licence Micro-cultivation licence Sale for medical purposes licence Nursery licence |
Any | Cannabis Act Fees Other legislations or regulations |
| Now available: Reporting requirements for cannabis and industrial hemp licences | 2024-02-20 | Health Canada is launching a new page which provides a summary of reporting requirements for cannabis and industrial hemp licences holders. The page lists the reports that you may need to submit throughout the year, along with key information for each. This includes a description, links to associated forms, contact information and deadlines. | (Any) all licence holders | Any | Compliance Reporting requirements Other legislations or regulations |
| Changes to submission requirements for cultivation, processing and sale for medical purposes licences | 2024-01-23 | Health Canada recognizes the need to reduce burden on industry while balancing program improvements and the protection of the health and safety of Canadians. Following a review of general industry compliance and risk related to physical security, there’ll be reductions to the submission requirements as of January 23, 2024. These changes will impact applicants when applying for a licence, and licence holders when requesting changes to their licence. | Standard processing licence Micro-processing licence Standard cultivation licence Micro-cultivation licence Sale for medical purposes licence Nursery licence |
Edibles Extracts Topicals Dried cannabis Fresh cannabis Plants Plant seeds |
Licence application, amendments and renewals Physical security measures |
| Rak is added to the List of Approved Cultivars for the 2024 growing season | 2024-01-23 | The 2024 List of Approved Cultivars (LOAC) is now available on the Health Canada website. The 2024 LOAC includes the addition of Rak as a new cultivar. The next submission deadline is February 1, 2024. However, Licence Holders can submit varieties at any time of the year. | Industrial hemp licence | Hemp | Industrial Hemp Regulations |
| Updates to cannabis key investor information | 2024-01-09 | The Cannabis key investors: Cultivation, processing and sale for medical purposes licences guidance web page, attestation and reporting form have been updated. The updates include clearer wording, added examples and improvements to the existing reporting form. There are no changes to the requirements and reports are still due January 31, 2024. | Standard processing licence Micro-processing licence Standard cultivation licence Micro-cultivation licence Sale for medical purposes licence Nursery licence |
any | Key investors |
| Reporting requirements for serious adverse reactions during non-therapeutic research with cannabis | 2023-12-05 | Regulatory obligations and reporting instructions for licence holders conducting non-therapeutic research with cannabis (NTRC) for reporting serious adverse reactions during NTRC studies. | Research licence | Edibles Extracts Topicals Dried cannabis Fresh cannabis Plants Plant seeds Hemp |
Cannabis regulations Reporting requirements Other legislations or regulations |
| Guidance on cannabis products with intoxicating cannabinoids other than delta-9-THC | 2023-12-05 | Some licensed producers are making cannabis products deliberately made with intoxicating cannabinoids other than delta-9-THC to get around important public health and public safety controls. As such, Health Canada recommends that licence holders apply the controls in this guidance to these cannabis products. Health Canada will continue to monitor the situation and update the guidance accordingly. | (Any) all licence holders | Edibles Extracts Topicals Dried cannabis Fresh cannabis |
THC Packaging / Labelling Testing |
| Making changes to a quality assurance person (QAP) | 2023-11-28 | When adding or replacing a quality assurance person (QAP) or alternate QAP, provide all required information including the completed Qualifications of the proposed QAP or alternate QAP for a processing licence form and a copy of the proposed QAP or alternate's resume. Learn more about submitting a QAP change request. | Standard processing licence Micro-processing licence |
Good production practices (GPP) Quality assurance person (QAP) Key site personnel and licenced individuals |
|
| Selling cannabis with your licence | 2023-11-28 | Most cannabis licences authorize sales to other licences holders. Consult the Types of cannabis and industrial hemp licences web page to see to whom you can sell your bulk cannabis and cannabis products based on your licence type. | Standard processing licence Micro-processing licence Standard cultivation licence Micro-cultivation licence Sale for medical purposes licence Nursery licence |
Edibles Extracts Topicals Dried cannabis Fresh cannabis Plants Plant seeds |
Cannabis Act Cannabis Regulations |
| Consequential amendments to the Cannabis Regulations related to food additives | 2023-11-06 | Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency are seeking feedback on the regulatory proposal to modernize the regulatory frameworks for food compositional standards, microbiological criteria, methods of analysis and food additives. This proposal also includes consequential amendments to the Cannabis Regulations related to food additives. | (Any) all licence holders | Edibles | Cannabis composition requirements Legislation and regulations Other legislations or regulations |
| Updates to application requirements for cannabis research licences | 2023-10-31 | The Cannabis licensing application: Research licence web pages have been updated. This includes updates to information on non-therapeutic research on cannabis (NTRC) including application submission and physical security requirements for institution-wide research licences. Do not use any previous versions of these pages. | Research licence | Edibles Extracts Topicals Dried cannabis Fresh cannabis Plants Plant seeds |
Cannabis regulations Licence applications |
| Renewing your cannabis licence: How, when and what to submit | 2023-10-31 | To renew your cannabis licence, you need to submit your application within 4 months of your licence expiry date. All your information must be up to date including your organizational security plan, security clearances and a compliant key investor report submitted during the most recent reporting period (January). | Standard processing licence Micro-processing licence Standard cultivation licence Micro-cultivation licence Sale for medical purposes licence Nursery licence |
Cannabis tracking and licensing system (CTLS) Renewals Licence application, amendments, & renewals |
|
| Program update: Changes to the process of adding sale authorization of cannabis products to processing licences | 2023-10-18 | Streamlining the assessment of authorized activity change requests for the sale of cannabis extracts, edibles and topicals | (Any) all licence holders | Edibles Extracts Topicals |
Sales amendments Inspections |
| Industry guidance: Preventive control plan for cannabis extracts and edible cannabis | 2023-09-20 | Notice to the cannabis industry on the publication of guidance for the development, implementation and maintenance of preventive control plans. | Standard processing licence Micro-processing licence |
Edibles Extracts |
Cannabis Regulations Good production practices (GPP) Standard operating procedures (SOPs) |
| Updating your licence in the Cannabis Tracking and Licensing System | 2023-09-20 | You are responsible for maintaining up-to-date information about your licence and site in the Cannabis Tracking and Licensing System. Your records in the system must reflect your current staff and facility, which includes information on your site personnel, directors and officers, and physical security measures. | Standard processing licence Micro-processing licence Standard cultivation licence Micro-cultivation licence Sale for medical purposes licence Nursery licence |
Cannabis Act Cannabis Regulations Cannabis tracking and licensing system (CTLD) |
|
| Now available: Summary report for the 2021-2022 review of the Cannabis Cost Recovery Framework | 2023-08-31 | In 2021-2022, Health Canada conducted a review of the Cannabis Cost Recovery Framework to better understand the impact of fees charged to licence holders in the legal cannabis industry. This was to assess the progress made towards key policy objectives and towards full cost recovery. We're reaching out to inform you that the summary report for the 2021-2022 Review of the Cannabis Cost Recovery Framework is now available online. | Standard processing licence Micro-processing licence Standard cultivation licence Micro-cultivation licence Sale for medical purposes licence Nursery licence |
Fees | |
| COVID-19 update: Cannabis licence holders | 2023-05-04 | Health Canada adjusted its administration and enforcement priorities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to provide greater flexibility to cannabis licence holders to operate. This update was emailed to cannabis licence holders on May 4, 2023. | Standard processing licence Micro-processing licence Standard cultivation licence Micro-cultivation licence Sale for medical purposes licence Nursery licence |
Any | Cannabis Act Cannabis Regulations COVID-19 |
| COVID-19 update: Industrial Hemp Licence Holders | 2023-05-04 | Health Canada adjusted its administration and enforcement priorities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to provide greater flexibility to industrial hemp licence holders to operate. This update was emailed to industrial hemp licence holders on May 4, 2023. | Industrial hemp licence | Hemp | Import or export permits Industrial Hemp Regulations COVID-19 |
| Online course for Licence Holders: Cannabis Act and Regulations - Understanding Compliance and Enforcement | 2023-08-24 | Health Canada announces the launch of the Cannabis Act and Regulations - Understanding Compliance and Enforcement online training course. This self-paced course helps federal cannabis licence holders understand their obligations under the Cannabis Act and the Cannabis Regulations. | (Any) all licence holders | Edibles Extracts Topicals Dried cannabis Fresh cannabis Plants Plant seeds Hemp |
Cannabis Act Cannabis Regulations Compliance |
| Expanding your site after receiving your licence | 2023-07-28 | You can get a licence for a modest-sized site and scale up later. Include only a portion of the areas within your site perimeter on your initial licence application and add new areas to your licensed site later. Learn more about seeking approval for changes to your site after licensing. | Standard processing licence, Micro-processing licence, Standard cultivation licence, Micro-cultivation licence, Sale for medical purposes licence, Nursery licence | Any | Physical security measures Licence amendments Licence applications |
| Changes to GCKey Login will affect CTLS users | 2023-07-28 | The Government of Canada will be implementing two-factor authentication (2FA) for their GCKey service. Beginning July 31, 2023, users of CTLS who sign-in using their GCKey credentials will be asked to set up 2FA before continuing. Those who use a sign-in partner will not be impacted. Questions regarding this change can be directed to the GCKey service at 1-855-438-1102. | (Any) all licence holders | Any | Cannabis tracking and licensing system (CTLS) |
| Cannabis data gathering program | 2023-07-13 | Health Canada is announcing the implementation of a data gathering program that will allow the department to proactively collect information on the legal and illicit cannabis markets in Canada, thereby strengthening its ability to provide Canadians with the information they need to make informed decisions and minimize the health and safety risks associated with cannabis consumption. | (Any) all licence holders | Edibles, Extracts, Dried cannabis, Hemp | Compliance, Testing |
| Quality assurance persons (QAP) for processing licences | 2023-06-28 | The quality assurance person (QAP) may assign quality assurance duties to others on-site to address risks (for example: a quality assurance team) if they work remotely or part-time. However, the QAP remains responsible for the quality of the cannabis produced on site and investigating complaints. Use the mandatory form to add or remove a QAP or alternate QAPs. | Standard processing licence, Micro-processing licence | Any | Good production practices (GPP), Quality assurance person (QAP), Key site personnel and licenced individuals |
| Update: Data on commercial cannabis licence applications and licences web page | 2023-08-30 | The Data on commercial cannabis licence applications and licences web page has been updated. This update reflects Health Canada's data as of June 30th, 2023 on commercial cannabis licence applications received and licences issued, broken down by province or territory and licence category. | Standard processing licence, Micro-processing licence, Standard cultivation licence, Micro-cultivation licence, Sale for medical pruposes licence, Nursery licence | Any | Cannabis Act, Licence amendments, Licence applications |
| Cannabis fees order: Compliance and enforcement actions | 2023-06-07 | Please refer to the update on the Cannabis Fees Order on what licence holders must do and consequences of not paying fees on time. The Cannabis Fees Order guide has also been updated and is available through this update page. Key updates include additional operational guidance, expanded information on commonly requested topics, clearer plain language explanations of the Cannabis Fees Order, and information on how to pay transactional fees by credit card. | Standard processing licence, Micro-processing licence, Standard cultivation licence, Micro-cultivation licence, Sale for medical purposes licence, Nursery licence | Any | Cannabis Act, Fees, Licence applications, Compliance |
| List of Approved Cultivars for the 2023 growing season: Chola, CNAP1HOH and Jurassic added | 2023-06-07 | The 2023 List of Approved Cultivars (LOAC) is now available on Health Canada's website. The 2023 LOAC includes the addition of the new Chola, CNAP1HOH and Jurassic cultivars. The next submission deadline is September 1, 2023. However, licence holders can submit varieties any time of the year. In addition, please note that CBF1 was added to the list of cultivars that are under observation. | Industrial hemp licence | Hemp | Industrial Hemp Regulations |
| Changes to the cannabis licensing process: Cannabis research and testing amendments to the Cannabis Regulations | 2022-12-09 | As of December 2, 2022, amendments to the Cannabis Regulations came into force. The amendments included the implementation of the risk-based non-therapeutic research on cannabis framework, changes to the required information for Head of Laboratory and increased activities regarding reference standards and test kits. As such, Health Canada has implemented a new licensing process for researchers conducting non-therapeutic research on cannabis and increased activities for testing. The implementation includes new and updated guidance web pages and changes to the CTLS. | Research licence, Analytical testing licence, Standard processing licence | Any | Cannabis tracking and licensing system (CTLS), Licence applications, amendments, and renewals |
| Publication of Health Canada's Guide on reporting of loss or theft of cannabis | 2020-05-25 | Health Canada's guide on "Reporting of loss or theft of cannabis" is available as of May 2020. A new online fillable form has also been published. The guide was developed to provide information to regulated parties and exemptees in meeting the regulatory requirements for reporting losses or thefts of cannabis. | Micro-cultivation licence, Nursery licence, Standard cultivation licence, Micro-processing licence, Standard processing licence, Sale for medical purposes licence, Analytical testing licence, Research licence, Cannabis drug licence | Reporting requirements, Cannabis Regulations, Plants, Plant seeds, Dried cannabis, Fresh cannabis, Topicals, Extracts, Edibles | Reporting requirements, Cannabis Regulations |
| Operational changes to cannabis program requirements | 2020-08-24 | Health Canada has updated its approach regarding the use of foliar sprays and the use of modified atmosphere packaging in final cannabis products. | Micro-cultivation licence, Nursery licence, Standard cultivation licence, Micro-processing licence, Standard processing licence, Sale for medical purposes licence, Cannabis drug license | Pesticides, Packaging and labelling, Compliance, Plants, Plant seeds, Dried cannabis, Fresh cannabis, Topicals, Extracts, Edibles | Pesticides, Packaging and labelling, Compliance |
| Heavy metal and microbial testing limits for dried cannabis intended for smoking or vaping | 2020-12-30 | Health Canada clarifies its expectations about the selection of appropriate tolerance limits for heavy metal and microbial contaminants in dried cannabis. | Micro-cultivation licence, Nursery licence, Standard cultivation licence, Micro-processing licence, Standard processing licence, Sale for medical purposes licence, Analytical testing licence | Testing, Cannabis Regulations, Compliance, Dried cannabis | Testing, Cannabis Regulations, Compliance |
| Inhalable cannabis extract products: phytol | 2021-01-15 | Health Canada provides information regarding cannabis vaping and other inhalable products containing phytol. This includes a discussion of the results and limitations of a 2020 study where rats were exposed to high levels of aerosolised phytol. In addition, this communication outlines Health Canada's requests for licence holders regarding the safety of phytol and any plans to reformulate products containing phytol. | Micro-cultivation licence, Nursery licence, Standard cultivation licence, Micro-processing licence, Standard processing licence, Sale for medical purposes licence, Cannabis drug license | Phytol, Safety, Study, Dried cannabis, Extracts | Phytocannabinoids, Safety, Study |
| Important cannabis licence holders update | 2021-08-10 | This communication reminds federal licence holders of the requirements in the Cannabis Act and its regulations about displaying THC and CBD content on a dried cannabis product label, and about the definitions of dried cannabis and cannabis extract in regards to kief, hashish and other products produced by mechanical processes. | Micro-cultivation licence, Nursery licence, Standard cultivation licence, Micro-processing licence, Standard processing licence, Sale for medical purposes licence, | Testing, Compliance, Cannabis Act and Regulations, Dried cannabis, Extracts | Testing, Compliance, Cannabis Act, Cannabis Regulations |
| Program Update: Fingerprinting process for security clearance applications | 2022-09-29 | Health Canada is making changes to the security clearance application process. Effective September 29, 2022, security clearance applicants, living in Canada or abroad, can now have their certified criminal record check sent to them directly. | All federal license holders | Security clearances | Security clearances |
| New Import-Export Permit application process in CTLS effective May 16 | 2022-05-13 | Health Canada is announcing changes to the Cannabis Tracking and Licensing System (CTLS). As of May 16, 2022, licence holders are required to submit new import and export permit applications, permit change requests, and endorsements through the CTLS. | All federal license holders | Import or export permits, Cannabis tracking and licensing system (CTLS) | Import or export permits |
| Program update: Changes to authorizations to sell dried and fresh cannabis products | 2022-03-31 | Health Canada is announcing the following program change. As of April 19, 2022, Health Canada will begin granting the authorization to sell dried and fresh cannabis products to all micro and standard processing licence holders during the initial licensing process, without the need to submit a sales amendment application. | All federal license holders | Licence application, amendment, and renewals, Sale amendments, Dried cannabis, fresh cannabis | Licence application, amendment, and renewals |
Page details
- Date modified: