1 This Act may be cited as the Food and Drugs Act .
Marginal note: Definitions
2 In this Act,
means a therapeutic product that is described in Schedule G or that belongs to a class of therapeutic products that is described in that Schedule; ( produit thérapeutique innovant )
includes any representation by any means whatever for the purpose of promoting directly or indirectly the sale or disposal of any food, drug, cosmetic or device; ( publicité ou annonce )
means an individual designated as an analyst for the purposes of this Act under section 28 or under section 13 of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act ; ( analyste )
means a study, involving human subjects, for the purpose of discovering or verifying the effects of a drug, a device or a food for a special dietary purpose; ( essai clinique )
, in respect of a person to whose business or affairs the information relates, means — subject to the regulations — business information
means any instrument, apparatus, contrivance or substance other than a drug, that is manufactured, sold or represented for use in the prevention of conception; ( moyen anticonceptionnel )
includes any substance or mixture of substances manufactured, sold or represented for use in cleansing, improving or altering the complexion, skin, hair or teeth, and includes deodorants and perfumes; ( cosmétique )
means the Department of Health; ( ministère )
means an instrument, apparatus, contrivance or other similar article, or an in vitro reagent, including a component, part or accessory of any of them, that is manufactured, sold or represented for use in
however, it does not include such an instrument, apparatus, contrivance or article, or a component, part or accessory of any of them, that does any of the actions referred to in paragraphs (a) to (e) solely by pharmacological, immunological or metabolic means or solely by chemical means in or on the body of a human being or animal; ( instrument )
includes any substance or mixture of substances manufactured, sold or represented for use in
includes any article manufactured, sold or represented for use as food or drink for human beings, chewing gum, and any ingredient that may be mixed with food for any purpose whatever; ( aliment )
means a food that has been specially processed or formulated
means a government agency or other entity outside Canada that controls the manufacture, use or sale of therapeutic products or foods within its jurisdiction; ( autorité réglementaire étrangère )
means an individual designated as an inspector for the purposes of this Act under subsection 22(1) or under section 13 of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act ; ( inspecteur )
includes any legend, word or mark attached to, included in, belonging to or accompanying any food, drug, cosmetic, device or package; ( étiquette )
means the Minister of Health; ( ministre )
includes any thing in which any food, drug, cosmetic or device is wholly or partly contained, placed or packed; ( emballage )
means an individual or an as defined in section 2 of the Criminal Code ; ( personne )
means prescribed by the regulations; ( Version anglaise seulement )
means a drug or device or any combination of drugs and devices; ( produit thérapeutique )
means such conditions or circumstances as might contaminate with dirt or filth, or render injurious to health, a food, drug or cosmetic. ( conditions non hygiéniques )
Marginal note: Non-corrective contact lenses
2.1 For the purposes of this Act, a non-corrective contact lens is deemed to be a device.
Marginal note: Tobacco products
2.2 This Act does not apply to a as defined in section 2 of the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act .
Marginal note: Vaping products
Marginal note: Classification — thing
Marginal note: Prohibited advertising
Marginal note: Prohibition — clinical trials
3.1 No person shall conduct a clinical trial in respect of a drug, device or prescribed food for a special dietary purpose unless the person holds an authorization issued under the regulations that authorizes the conduct of the clinical trial.
Marginal note: Terms and conditions — clinical trial authorizations
3.2 The holder of an authorization referred to in section 3.1 shall comply with any terms and conditions of the authorization that are imposed by the Minister under regulations made under paragraph 30(1)(b.3).
Marginal note: Duty to publicize clinical trial information
3.3 The holder of an authorization referred to in section 3.1 shall ensure that prescribed information concerning the clinical trial is made public within the prescribed time and in the prescribed manner.
Marginal note: Prohibited sales of food
Marginal note: Deception, etc., regarding food
Marginal note: Importation and interprovincial movement of food
any article that is intended for sale and that is likely to be mistaken for that food unless the article complies with the prescribed standard.
in such a manner that it is likely to be mistaken for that food unless the article complies with the prescribed standard.
Marginal note: Governor in Council may identify standard or portion thereof
Marginal note: Unsanitary manufacture, etc., of food
7 No person shall manufacture, prepare, preserve, package or store for sale any food under unsanitary conditions.
Marginal note: Prohibited sales of drugs
8 No person shall sell any drug that
Marginal note: Deception, etc., regarding drugs
Marginal note: Where standard prescribed for drug
Marginal note: Unsanitary manufacture, etc., of drug
11 No person shall manufacture, prepare, preserve, package or store for sale any drug under unsanitary conditions.
Marginal note: Drugs not to be sold unless safe manufacture indicated
12 No person shall sell any drug described in Schedule C or D unless the Minister has, in prescribed form and manner, indicated that the premises in which the drug was manufactured and the process and conditions of manufacture therein are suitable to ensure that the drug will not be unsafe for use.
Marginal note: Drugs not to be sold unless safe batch indicated
13 No person shall sell any drug described in Schedule E unless the Minister has, in prescribed form and manner, indicated that the batch from which the drug was taken is not unsafe for use.
Marginal note: Samples
14 No person shall distribute or cause to be distributed any drug as a sample except in accordance with the regulations.
Marginal note: Schedule F drugs not to be sold
15 No person shall sell any drug described in Schedule F.
Marginal note: Prohibited sales of cosmetics
16 No person shall sell any cosmetic that
Marginal note: Prohibited sales — animal testing
Marginal note: Prohibition — animal testing
16.2 No person shall conduct a test on an animal that could cause pain, suffering or injury, whether physical or mental, to the animal if the purpose of the test is to meet, with respect to a cosmetic, a requirement under a provision of this Act or the regulations or to meet a requirement that relates to the safety of cosmetics under the law that applies in a foreign state.
Marginal note: Prohibited claims — animal testing
Marginal note: Where standard prescribed for cosmetic
17 Where a standard has been prescribed for a cosmetic, no person shall label, package, sell or advertise any article in such a manner that it is likely to be mistaken for that cosmetic, unless the article complies with the prescribed standard.
Marginal note: Unsanitary conditions
18 No person shall manufacture, prepare, preserve, package or store for sale any cosmetic under unsanitary conditions.
Marginal note: Prohibited sales of devices
19 No person shall sell any device that, when used according to directions or under such conditions as are customary or usual, may cause injury to the health of the purchaser or user thereof.
Marginal note: Deception, etc., regarding devices
Marginal note: Where standard prescribed for device
21 Where a standard has been prescribed for a device, no person shall label, package, sell or advertise any article in such a manner that it is likely to be mistaken for that device, unless the article complies with the prescribed standard.
Marginal note: Power to require information — serious risk
Marginal note: Modification or replacement — labelling or packaging
21.2 The Minister may, if he or she believes that doing so is necessary to prevent injury to health, order the holder of a therapeutic product authorization that authorizes the import or sale of a therapeutic product to modify the product’s label or to modify or replace its package.
Marginal note: Minister’s powers — risk of injury to health
Marginal note: Information — serious environmental risk
Marginal note: Labelling or packaging — serious risk to environment
21.302 The Minister may, if he or she believes that doing so is necessary to prevent a serious risk to the environment, order the holder of a therapeutic product authorization that authorizes the import or sale of a therapeutic product to modify the product’s label or to modify or replace its package.
Marginal note: Minister’s powers — serious risk to environment
Marginal note: Power to require assessment
21.31 Subject to the regulations, the Minister may order the holder of a therapeutic product authorization to conduct an assessment of the therapeutic product to which the authorization relates and provide the Minister with the results of the assessment.
Marginal note: Power to require tests, studies, etc.
21.32 Subject to the regulations, the Minister may, for the purpose of obtaining additional information about a therapeutic product’s effects on health or safety, order the holder of a therapeutic product authorization to
Marginal note: Definition of
21.321 Despite the definition in section 2, in sections 21.31 and 21.32 means a drug or device or any combination of drugs and devices, but does not include a natural health product within the meaning of the Natural Health Products Regulations .
Marginal note: Power — information relating to environmental effects
21.33 Subject to the regulations, the Minister may, for the purpose of obtaining additional information about a therapeutic product’s effects on the environment, order the holder of a therapeutic product authorization to
Marginal note: Injunction
Marginal note: False or misleading information — therapeutic products
21.6 No person shall knowingly make a false or misleading statement to the Minister — or knowingly provide him or her with false or misleading information — in connection with any matter under this Act concerning a therapeutic product.
Marginal note: Terms and conditions of authorizations
21.7 The holder of a therapeutic product authorization shall comply with any terms and conditions of the authorization that are imposed by the Minister under subsection 21.92(3) or under regulations made under paragraph 30(1.2)(b).
Marginal note: Duty to publicize clinical trial information
21.71 The holder of a therapeutic product authorization referred to in paragraph 30(1.2)(c) shall ensure that prescribed information concerning the clinical trial is made public within the prescribed time and in the prescribed manner.
Marginal note: Health care institutions to provide information
Marginal note: Prohibited activities
Marginal note: Additions to Schedule G
Marginal note: Advanced therapeutic product licence
Marginal note: Suspension and revocation
Marginal note: Exemption
21.94 The holder of an advanced therapeutic product licence is, in respect of the activities authorized under the licence, exempt from the provisions of the regulations other than any provisions that are specified in regulations made under paragraph 30(1.2)(b.2).
Marginal note: Order — advanced therapeutic products
Marginal note: Exemption
21.96 A person that conducts an activity under an order made under subsection 21.95(1) is, in respect of the activity, exempt from the provisions of the regulations other than any provisions that are specified in the order or in regulations made under paragraph 30(1.2)(b.2).
Marginal note: Inspectors
Marginal note: Provision of documents, information or samples
Marginal note: Powers of inspectors
Marginal note: Obstruction and false statements
Marginal note: Storage, movement and disposal
25 An inspector may, in respect of any article seized under this Part,
Marginal note: Release of seized articles
26 An inspector who has seized any article under this Part shall release it when he is satisfied that all the provisions of this Act and the regulations with respect thereto have been complied with.
Marginal note: Unclaimed seized articles
Marginal note: Forfeiture with consent
Marginal note: Unlawful imports
Marginal note: Removal or destruction
Marginal note: Measures
Marginal note: Analysts
28 The Minister may designate any individual as an analyst for the purposes of the administration and enforcement of this Act.
Marginal note: Analysis and examination
Marginal note: List
29.2 [Repealed, 2024, c. 17, s. 324]
Marginal note: Regulations
to prevent the purchaser or consumer thereof from being deceived or misled in respect of the design, construction, performance, intended use, quantity, character, value, composition, merit or safety thereof, or to prevent injury to the health of the purchaser or consumer;
and defining for the purposes of this Act the expression ;
as the Governor in Council deems necessary for the protection of the public in relation to the safety and quality of any such drug or class of drugs.
Marginal note: Supplementary rules — therapeutic product
Marginal note: Supplementary rules — drug intended for animal
30.03 An order made under subsection 30.01(1) or 30.02(1) that applies to only one person is not a statutory instrument within the meaning of the Statutory Instruments Act .
Marginal note: Availability — person-specific orders
30.04 The Minister must ensure that any order made under subsection 30.01(1) or 30.02(1) that applies to only one person is publicly available but may exclude personal information and confidential business information from the order.
Marginal note: Exemption — foods and therapeutic products
Marginal note: Deeming order
Marginal note: Deeming
30.07 For the purposes of any provision of this Act, other than sections 30.01, 30.02, 30.05 and 30.06, any reference to regulations made under this Act is deemed to include orders made under section 30.01, 30.02, 30.05 or 30.06.
Marginal note: Interim orders
Marginal note: Marketing authorization — representation
Marginal note: Marketing authorization — food
Marginal note: Classes
30.4 A marketing authorization may establish classes and distinguish among those classes.
Marginal note: Incorporation by reference
Marginal note: Existing power not limited
30.6 For greater certainty, an express power in this Act to incorporate a document by reference does not limit the power that otherwise exists to incorporate a document by reference in a regulation made under this Act.
Marginal note: Fees
Marginal note: Consultation
30.62 Before making an order under subsection 30.61(1), the Minister shall consult with any persons that the Minister considers to be interested in the matter.
Marginal note: Remission of fees
Marginal note: Non-payment of fees
30.64 The Minister may withdraw or withhold a service, the use of a facility, a regulatory process or approval or a product, right or privilege under this Act from any person who fails to pay the fee fixed for it under subsection 30.61(1).
Marginal note: Adjustment of amounts
30.66 The Service Fees Act does not apply to a fee fixed under subsection 30.61(1).
Marginal note: Recovery
Marginal note: Certificate of default
Marginal note: Contravention of Act or regulations
31 Subject to sections 31.1, 31.2 and 31.4, every person who contravenes any of the provisions of this Act or of the regulations, or fails to do anything the person was ordered to do by an inspector under section 25 or 27.2, is guilty of an offence and liable
Marginal note: Offences relating to food
Marginal note: Offences relating to therapeutic products
Marginal note: Due diligence
31.3 Due diligence is a defence in a prosecution for an offence under this Act, other than an offence under section 31.4.
Marginal note: Offences — section 21.6 and serious risk
Marginal note: Sentencing considerations
31.5 A court that imposes a sentence for an offence under section 31.2 or 31.4 shall take into account, in addition to any other principles that it is required to consider, the following factors:
Marginal note: Parties to offence
31.6 If a person other than an individual commits an offence under section 31.2, or commits an offence under section 31.4 by reason of contravening section 21.6, then any of the person’s directors, officers or agents or mandataries who directs, authorizes, assents to or acquiesces or participates in the commission of the offence is a party to the offence and is liable on conviction to the punishment provided for by this Act, even if the person is not prosecuted for the offence.
Marginal note: Continuing offence
31.7 If an offence under section 31.2 or 31.4 is committed or continued on more than one day, it constitutes a separate offence for each day on which it is committed or continued.
Marginal note: Limitation period
Marginal note: Venue
33 A prosecution for a contravention of this Act or the regulations may be instituted, heard, tried or determined in the place in which the offence was committed or the subject-matter of the prosecution arose or in any place in which the accused is apprehended or happens to be.
Marginal note: Want of knowledge
the accused shall be acquitted.
Marginal note: Certificate of analyst
Marginal note: Proof as to manufacturer or packager
Marginal note: Conditions under which exports exempt
Marginal note: Conditions under which transhipment exempt
38 This Act does not apply to any packaged food, drug, cosmetic or device if
Things that Fall Within Definition “Food” in Section 2
Item | Description |
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Things that Fall Within Definition “Drug” in Section 2
Item | Description |
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Things that Fall Within Definition “Cosmetic” in Section 2
Item | Description |
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Things that Fall Within Definition “Device” in Section 2
Item | Description |
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The most recent editions, including all errata, supplements, revisions and addenda, of the following standards:
Column I | Column II | |
---|---|---|
Item | Name | Abbreviation |
1 | European Pharmacopoeia | (Ph.Eur.) |
2 | Pharmacopée française | (Ph.F.) |
3 | Pharmacopoeia Internationalis | (Ph.I.) |
4 | The British Pharmacopoeia | (B.P.) |
5 | The Canadian Formulary | (C.F.) |
6 | The National Formulary | (N.F.) |
7 | The Pharmaceutical Codex: Principles and Practices of Pharmaceuticals | |
8 | The United States Pharmacopoeia | (U.S.P.) |
[There are no items in this Schedule.]
[There are no items in this Schedule of the FOOD AND DRUGS ACT.]
Item | Description |
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[Repealed, 1996, c. 19, s. 82]