Regulatory information for controlled substances and precursors

On this page

• Licensed dealers
• Pharmacists
• Practitioners
• Law enforcement
• Class exemptees
• Importers of designated devices
• Travellers
• Contact us

The information on this page applies to parties, including section 56 exemption holders, regulated under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (the Act) and its associated regulations.

Licensed dealers

These resources are for holders of a dealer's licence who perform authorized activities with controlled substances or precursors, such as:

• sell
• provide
• produce
• assemble
• import or export

Learn more about:

• Directive on Physical Security Requirements for Controlled Substances and Drugs Containing Cannabis
• Compliance and Enforcement Policy for Controlled Substances and Precursors (CS-POL-001)
• Inspection Strategy for Licensed Dealers of Controlled Substances and Class A Precursors (CS-POL-002)
• Reporting Loss or Theft of Controlled Substances and Precursors
• Guidance Document: Inspection Guide for Licensed Dealers of Controlled Substances (CS-GD-016)
• Guidance Document: Risk Classification Guide for Licensed Dealers of Controlled Substances' Inspection Observations (CS-GD-017)
• Guidance Document: Risk classification guide for Licensed Dealers of Class A Precursors' Inspection Observations (CS-GC-019)
• Guidance Document: Destruction of narcotics, controlled and restricted drugs and targeted substances by licensed dealers (CS-GD-020)
• Guidance Document: Handling and destruction of post-consumer returns containing controlled substances (CS-GD-021)
• Guidance Document: Recording and reporting of suspicious transactions for controlled substances and precursors (CS-GD-025)

Pharmacists

These resources are for pharmacists who must comply with the Act's regulatory requirements under the practice of pharmacy when handling controlled substances.

• Federal Regulatory Record Keeping Requirements – Quick Reference Guide for Pharmacists Dispensing + Purchasing Controlled Substances
• Controlled substances guidance for community pharmacists: security, inventory reconciliation and record-keeping (CS-GD-022)
• Guidance Document: Handling and destruction of post-consumer returns containing controlled substances (CS-GD-021)
• Reporting Loss or Theft of Controlled Substances and Precursors
• Guidance Document for Pharmacists, Practitioners and Persons in Charge if Hospitals: Handling and Destruction of Unserviceable Stock Containing Narcotics, Controlled Drugs or Targeted Substances
• List of restricted health care practitioners and pharmacists named in a notice of restriction
• Community Pharmacy Inspection Program Annual Reports
• Subsection 56(1) class exemption for patients, practitioners and pharmacists prescribing and providing controlled substances in Canada
• Questions and Answers: Prescription Opioids – Sticker and Handout Requirements for Pharmacists and Practitioners

Practitioners

These resources are for practitioners such as physicians, veterinarians and dentists, who must comply with the Act's regulatory requirements when handling controlled substances.

• Subsection 56(1) class exemption for patients, practitioners and pharmacists prescribing and providing controlled substances in Canada
• Section 56(1) Class Exemption for Pharmacists, Practitioners, Persons in Charge of a Hospital and Licensed Dealers for the Provision and Destruction of Unserviceable Stock and Post-consumer Returns
• Reporting Loss or Theft of Controlled Substances and Precursors
• List of restricted health care practitioners and pharmacists named in a notice of restriction
• Questions and Answers: Prescription Opioids – Sticker and Handout Requirements for Pharmacists and Practitioners

Law enforcement

This resource is for members of law enforcement agencies, including police or military force, who must comply with regulatory requirements for the seizure and disposition of controlled substances and precursors.

• Guidance Document – Reporting Seizure and Disposition of Controlled Substances, Precursors, Chemical Offence-Related Property, Cannabis and Chemical Property

Class exemptees

This resource is for exemption holders who are authorized to conduct lawful activities with controlled substances for medical, scientific and industrial purposes.

• List of class exemptions and related guidance

Importers of designated devices

This resource is for a person who wants to import a designated device, such as a pill press or encapsulator, under the Act's regulatory requirements.

• Designated Devices Registry Guidance Document

Travellers

This resource is for a person who wants to travel into or out of Canada with medications that contain controlled substances, under the Act's regulatory requirements.

• Travelling into and out of Canada with prescription medications that contain controlled substances

Contact us

Questions regarding compliance and monitoring of controlled substances

• National Compliance Section
• Email: compliance-conformite@hc-sc.gc.ca

General enquiries

• Office of Controlled Substances
• Email: ocs-bsc@hc-sc.gc.ca
• Telephone: 613-952-2177