Canada's consolidated Controlled Substances Regulations take effect today

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Health Canada's new Controlled Substances Regulations come into force on October 1, 2026, replacing the Narcotic Control Regulations, the Benzodiazepines and Other Targeted Substances Regulations, Parts G and J of the Food and Drug Regulations and other instruments with one modernized federal framework. The rules were published in the Canada Gazette, Part II, in December 2025.

The new framework permanently establishes the authorizations pharmacy professionals have used since March 2020 under subsection 56(1) exemptions to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, which expired on September 30, 2026. Pharmacists can now accept verbal orders for controlled substances from authorized practitioners, transfer controlled-substance prescriptions within Canada, extend qualifying prescriptions, and pharmacy technicians gain explicit federal authority over transfers, delivery, records and certain destruction tasks.

For the public, the transition is designed to be seamless, but there are practical changes: unwanted controlled medications can be returned to a broader range of authorized locations, including pharmacies, clinics, hospitals and designated take-back programs; travellers on international trips longer than 30 days can carry up to a 90-day supply of certain prescriptions containing cannabis, narcotics or controlled drugs without applying for individual federal exemptions; and federal rules for cannabis-containing prescription drugs are harmonized with the new framework.

The provincial pharmacy colleges of British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario have published guidance to support the transition. Health Canada will hold English and French information sessions for community pharmacy staff starting October 5.