List of class exemptions and related guidance

The policy documents provide guidance to Health Canada and stakeholders on the application of the CDSA and it regulations as they pertain to specific issues.

• Framework for Designating Additional Classes of Practitioners Under the New Classes of Practitioners Regulations
• Prescription management by pharmacists with controlled substances under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and its regulations
• Subsection 56(1) class exemption for patients, practitioners and pharmacists prescribing and providing controlled substances in Canada
• Subsection 56(1) class exemption in relation to urgent public health need sites in the provinces and territories
• Transportation of Controlled Substances in Canada
• Subsection 56(1) Class Exemption for the Person in Charge of a Hospital and/or a Pharmacist who Supplies Controlled Substances to a Community Health Facility
  • Supplementary information
• Subsection 56(1) Class Exemption for Nurses providing Primary Health Care at a Community Health Facility
  • Supplementary information
• Section56(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
• Section 56 Class Exemption in Relation to the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposed Regulations - prohibitions to possess and produce medical cannabis for medical purposes
  • Exemption for registered persons
  • Exemption for registered persons with a designated person
  • Exemption for designated persons   
• Section 56 Class Exemption in Relation to the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations-Physical Security Requirements for Licensed Producers of Cannabis for Medical Purposes
• Section 56 Class Exemption for Licensed Producers Under the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations to Conduct Activities with Cannabis
• Section 56 Class Exemption for registered persons and individuals responsible for them or authorized persons to provide, deliver, transport or send fresh and dried marihuana and cannabis oil to Licensed Dealers for the purpose of analytical testing
• Section 56 Class Exemption for clients and responsible persons Under the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations to Conduct Activities with Cannabis
• Section 56 Class Exemption for Individuals Authorized to Possess or to Produce Marihuana for Medical Purposes by virtue of an interim injunction
• Section 56 Class Exemption to Authorize Health Care Practitioners to Conduct Activities with Cannabis
• Publication of the Regulations Amending the Narcotic Control Regulations (NCR), the Regulations Amending Parts G and J of the Food and Drug Regulations (FDR) and the Regulations Amending the Benzodiazepines and Other Targeted Substances Regulations (BOTSR)
• Rationale for Class Exemptions under Section 56 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act for Paramedics and Designated Administrators Who Conduct Activities with Controlled Substances
• Section 56 Class Exemption For Travellers Who Are Importing or Exporting Prescription Drug Products Containing a Narcotic or a Controlled Drug

Alberta

• Section 56 Class Exemption for Medical Directors in Alberta
• Section 56 Class Exemption for Paramedics in Alberta
• Section 56 Class Exemption for Designated Administrators of Ambulance Operators in Alberta

British Columbia

• Exemption from Controlled Drugs and Substances Act: Personal possession of small amounts of certain illegal drugs in British Columbia (January 31, 2023 to January 31, 2026)
  • Subsection 56(1) class exemption for adults in the province of British Columbia to possess small amounts of opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA
• Section 56 Class Exemption for Advanced Care Paramedics, Critical Care Paramedics and Infant Transport Team Paramedics in British Columbia
• Section 56 Class Exemption for Designated Administrators of the British Columbia Ambulance Service

New Brunswick

• Section 56 Class Exemption for Designated Administrators of Ambulance New Brunswick
• Section 56 Class Exemption for Nurses Employed by Ambulance New Brunswick in New Brunswick
• Section 56 Class Exemption for Advanced Care Paramedics in New Brunswick

Newfoundland and Labrador

• Subsection 56(1) Class Exemption for Advanced Care and Critical Care Paramedics in Newfoundland and Labrador
• Subsection 56(1) Class Exemption for Designated Administrators of Ambulance Service Operators in Newfoundland and Labrador

Nova Scotia

• Section 56 Class Exemption for System Support Technicians and System Support Transporters of Emergency Health Service Operators in Nova Scotia
• Section 56 Class Exemption for Designated Administrators of Emergency Health Service Operators in Nova Scotia
• Section 56 Class Exemption for Primary Care Paramedics, Intermediate Care Paramedics, Advanced Care Paramedics and Critical Care Paramedics in Nova Scotia

Ontario

• Subsection 56(1) Class Exemption for Primary Care Paramedics, Advanced Care Paramedics and Critical Care Paramedics in Ontario
• Subsection 56(1) Class Exemption for Designated Administrators of Ambulance Service Operators in Ontario

Quebec

• Section 56 Class Exemption for Paramedic Ambulance Technicians in Quebec

Saskatchewan

• Subsection 56(1) class exemption for intermediate care paramedics, advanced care paramedics and critical care paramedics in Saskatchewan
• Subsection 56(1) class exemption for designated administrators of ambulance service and air ambulance service operators in Saskatchewan