Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 154, Number 15: GOVERNMENT NOTICES

April 11, 2020

DEPARTMENT OF CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION

IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE PROTECTION ACT

Ministerial Instructions Amending the Ministerial Instructions Respecting the Agri-food Immigration Class

The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, pursuant to section 14.1 footnote a of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act footnote b, gives the annexed Ministerial Instructions Amending the Ministerial Instructions Respecting the Agri-food Immigration Class.

Ottawa, March 29, 2020

Marco E. L. Mendicino
Minister of Citizenship and Immigration

Ministerial Instructions Amending the Ministerial Instructions Respecting the Agri-food Immigration Class

Amendment

1 Section 5 of the Ministerial Instructions Respecting the Agri-food Immigration Class footnote 1 is replaced by the following:

Effective period

5 These Instructions have effect during the period beginning on May 15, 2020 and ending on May 14, 2023.

Taking effect

2 These Instructions take effect on the day on which they are given.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT

Interim Order Respecting Drugs, Medical Devices and Foods for a Special Dietary Purpose in Relation to COVID-19

Whereas the Minister of Health believes that immediate action is required to deal with a significant risk, direct or indirect, to health, safety or the environment;

Therefore, the Minister of Health, pursuant to subsection 30.1(1) footnote c of the Food and Drugs Act footnote d, makes the annexed Interim Order Respecting Drugs, Medical Devices and Foods for a Special Dietary Purpose in Relation to COVID-19.

Ottawa, March 30, 2020

Patricia Hajdu
Minister of Health

Interim Order Respecting Drugs, Medical Devices and Foods for a Special Dietary Purpose in Relation to COVID-19

Interpretation

Other words and expressions

1 Unless the context otherwise requires, words and expressions used in this Interim Order have the meanings assigned to them by the Food and Drug Regulations or the Medical Devices Regulations, as the case may be.

Drugs

Interpretation

Definition of drug

2 In sections 3 to 14, drug does not include

Exceptional Importation and Sale

Definitions

3 The following definitions apply in this section and sections 4 to 10.

designated drug means a drug that is set out in the List of Drugs for Exceptional Importation and Sale or a drug that is part of a class of drugs that is set out in that list. (drogue désignée)

Non-application

4 Subject to section 5 and subsection 6(1), the following provisions of the Food and Drug Regulations do not apply to a designated drug that is imported:

Prohibition — sale

5 (1) The prohibition set out in section C.01.016 of the Food and Drug Regulations applies to the sale of a designated drug that is imported.

Serious adverse drug reaction reporting

(2) Despite subsection (1), the manufacturer of the designated drug is required to comply only with the requirements set out in sections C.01.017 and C.01.019 of those Regulations.

Finished product testing

6 (1) Section C.02.019 of the Food and Drug Regulations does not apply to an importer in respect of a designated drug that they import.

Timing of testing

(2) An importer of a designated drug must perform the finished product testing on a sample of the drug that is taken either

Visual inspection

(3) If the importer receives on their premises in Canada a lot or batch of a drug the useful life of which is more than 30 days, the importer must visually inspect the lot or batch to confirm the identity of the product.

Non-application

(4) Subsections (2) and (3) do not apply to the importer if the designated drug is fabricated, packaged/labelled and tested in an MRA country at a recognized building and both of the following requirements are met:

Information request

7 (1) The Minister may request from an importer of a designated drug, in writing, any of the information referred to in paragraphs C.02.020(1)(a), (b) and (d) of the Food and Drug Regulations.

Time, form and manner

(2) The importer must provide the information in the time, form and manner determined by the Minister.

Non-application

8 Subsections 6(2) and (3) and section 7 do not apply in respect of a drug that is not subject to Division 2 of Part C of the Food and Drug Regulations.

Notification

9 (1) An importer of a designated drug must notify the Minister at least five days before the day on which the drug is imported.

Content

(2) The notification must be made in the form and manner determined by the Minister and contain the following information:

Accessibility of information

10 An importer of a designated drug that sells it must ensure that the information referred to in paragraph 9(2)(d) is available in a manner that permits the safe use of the drug.

Interpretation

Definitions

11 The following definitions apply in this section and sections 12 to 14.

biocide means a drug that is not a pest control product and that

pest control product has the same meaning as in subsection 2(1) of the Pest Control Products Act. (produit antiparasitaire)

Drug Identification Number

Non-application — application

12 (1) Paragraph C.01.014.1(2)(m.1) of the Food and Drug Regulations does not apply in respect of an application for a drug identification number for a biocide that is made under subsection C.01.014.1(1).

Written text of labels

(2) Paragraph C.01.014.1(2)(m) of those Regulations applies in respect of the application and is to be read without reference to the words “in the case of a drug for veterinary use”.

Notice of Compliance

Non-application — submission

13 (1) Paragraph C.08.002(2)(j.1) of the Food and Drug Regulations does not apply in respect of a new drug submission for a biocide that is submitted under subsec- tion C.08.002(2).

Drafts of labels

(2) Paragraph C.08.002(2)(j) of those Regulations applies in respect of the submission and is to be read without reference to the words “in the case of a new drug for veterinary use”.

Establishment Licence

Non-application

14 The provisions of Division 1A of Part C of the Food and Drug Regulations do not apply to a person who conducts one or more activities referred to in Table I to section C.01A.008 of those Regulations only in respect of drugs that are not pest control products and that are intended to reduce or inactivate pathogenic microorganisms on human skin.

Medical Devices

Medical Device Shortages — Notification

Definitions

15 The following definitions apply in this section and in sections 16 to 19.

Shortage — information

16 (1) If a shortage of a specified medical device — or of its components, accessories, parts or consumable materials — exists or is likely to occur, the manufacturer and the importer of the device must each submit the following information to the Minister in both English and French in the form and manner determined by the Minister:

Timing

(2) The information must be submitted

Updates

(3) If any of the information that was submitted by the manufacturer or importer changes, the manufacturer or importer must submit the new information to the Minister within two days after the day on which they make or become aware of the change.

End of shortage

(4) Within two days after the day on which the manufacturer is able to meet the demand for the medical device — or for its components, accessories, consumable materials or parts — the manufacturer or importer must notify the Minister in writing to that effect.

Permission

17 (1) Despite subsection 16(1), the manufacturer of a specified medical device may permit an importer of the device to submit the information referred to in that subsection on the manufacturer’s behalf if the information that the manufacturer and importer must submit is identical.

Notification

(2) The manufacturer must notify the Minister in writing if the manufacturer has permitted an importer to submit the information on the manufacturer’s behalf.

Publication of information

18 The Minister must publish the information that he or she receives under section 16 on a Government of Canada website.

Information request

19 (1) The Minister may request from the manufacturer or importer of a specified medical device any information, other than the information referred to in section 16, that relates to a shortage of the device or of its components, accessories, parts or consumable materials.

Time, form and manner

(2) The manufacturer or importer must provide the information in the time, form and manner determined by the Minister.

Exceptional Importation and Sale

Definitions

20 The following definitions apply in this section and in sections 21 to 23.

Non-application

21 The provisions of the Medical Device Regulations — other than sections 44 to 65.1 — do not apply to a medical device if the device is

Notification

22 (1) An importer of a designated medical device must notify the Minister at least five days before the day on which the device is imported.

Content

(2) The notification must be made in the form and manner determined by the Minister and contain the following information:

Accessibility of information

23 An importer of a designated medical device that sells it must ensure that the information referred to in paragraph 22(2)(c) is available in a manner that permits the safe use of the device.

Food

Exceptional Importation and Sale

Definitions

24 The following definitions apply in this section and in sections 25 to 27.

Non-application

25 (1) Sections A.01.014 and A.01.016 of the Food and Drug Regulations, the provisions of Part B of those Regulations — other than sections B.24.100 and B.24.300 — and the provisions of Part D of those Regulations do not apply to a food for a special dietary purpose that is imported if the food is

Exemptions

(2) A food for a special dietary purpose that is imported is exempt from the application of paragraphs 4(1)(a) and (d) of the Food and Drugs Act in respect of the use or presence of any of the following substances or materials if the applicable condition in subsection (1)(a) or (b) is met:

Notification

26 (1) An importer of a designated food for a special dietary purpose must notify the Minister at least five days before the day on which the food is imported.

Content

(2) The notification must be made in the form and manner determined by the Minister and contain the following information:

Accessibility of information

27 An importer of a designated food for a special dietary purpose that sells it must ensure that the information referred to in subparagraphs 26(2)(e)(ii) to (vii) is available in a manner that permits the safe preparation and use of the food.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Interim Order.)

Proposal

The Interim Order Respecting Drugs, Medical Devices and Foods for a Special Dietary Purpose in Relation to COVID-19 (the Interim Order), made by the Minister of Health on March 30, 2020, introduces measures for drugs, medical devices, and foods for special dietary purposes that are necessary to help prevent or alleviate the effects of shortages directly or indirectly related to COVID-19. The Interim Order allows the Minister to permit the exceptional importation and sale of drugs, medical devices, and foods for special dietary purposes that do not fully comply with Canadian requirements, but are manufactured according to comparable standards. In addition, the Interim Order introduces a mandatory mechanism for the Minister to be notified of shortages of medical devices considered to be critical during the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, the Interim Order modifies certain application requirements to allow for the expedited authorization of biocide drugs, such as hard surface disinfectants and hand sanitizers.

The Minister may make interim orders under subsection 30.1(1) of the Food and Drugs Act if the Minister believes that immediate action is required to deal with a significant risk, direct or indirect, to health, safety or the environment.

Objective

The objective is to protect the health and safety of Canadians through exceptional importation of drugs, medical devices, and foods for special dietary purposes that are in shortage as a direct or indirect result of the COVID-19 pandemic and by providing improved access to biocide drugs.

Background

COVID-19 is the infectious respiratory disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The outbreak of COVID-19 began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. COVID-19 infection is known to cause respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, COVID-19 infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and death.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global pandemic related to COVID-19 on March 11, 2020. There are now more than 558 900 cases in at least 150 countries and over 25 250 people have lost their lives. The number of confirmed cases in Canada as of March 27, 2020, has exceeded 4 015; however, the situation is changing rapidly.

During the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, there may be shortages of drugs (including hand sanitizer and hard surface disinfectants), medical devices (e.g. personal protective equipment such as masks or gowns), and foods for special dietary purposes (e.g. infant formula). This Interim Order allows Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to address critical supply issues in an expedited manner when shortages occur. This will enable Canada’s health care system to adapt rapidly to changes in the supply chain to address the needs of Canadians.

On March 16, 2020, Health Canada implemented interim measures using enforcement discretion to facilitate expedited access to supplies of products that do not fully meet regulatory requirements under the Food and Drugs Act. These interim measures were implemented to address an unprecedented demand for hard surface disinfectants, hand sanitizers, and personal protective equipment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The interim measures enabled Health Canada to facilitate the availability of supplies of these products for Canadians.

At this time, Health Canada is aware of two specific practices that are causing concern and contributing to issues affecting supplies of drugs, medical devices and foods for special dietary purposes. These are

Health Canada is engaging multiple partners, including provinces and territories, distributors, and group purchasing organizations to identify solutions. This Interim Order will help Canadians access products necessary for their health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Implications

This Interim Order allows for the exceptional importation and sale of drugs (including hard surface disinfectants and hand sanitizers), medical devices, and foods for special dietary purposes, to address shortages of these products related directly or indirectly to the COVID-19 pandemic. Products governed by this exceptional importation and sale Interim Order may be imported into Canada, provided these products were manufactured with similar high quality and manufacturing standards to those required for Canadian approved products. In certain limited cases, the Interim Order will also allow the exceptional sale of an unapproved medical device or food for a special dietary purpose that is manufactured in Canada when the product is needed to respond to a shortage. The Minister will maintain up-to-date lists of the drugs, medical devices, and foods eligible for this exceptional importation pathway on Health Canada’s website.

Any importer who uses the exemptions in this Interim Order must notify the Minister at least five days before importation, following the requirements in the Interim Order. These products will still be subject to some of the requirements set out in the Food and Drugs Act and its regulations, including reporting adverse drug reactions, recall requirements, and mandatory problem reporting (medical devices).

The Interim Order also introduces a new requirement for manufacturers of medical devices considered to be critical during the COVID-19 pandemic to notify the Minister about shortages of those medical devices. The notification must happen within five days of becoming aware of a shortage in progress or of an anticipated shortage. The required information must be submitted in a form and manner established by the Minister. The reporting framework aligns with the existing approach to the shortage reporting framework for drugs.

The requirement for notification of shortages of certain medical devices and drugs will help inform the Minister of which products to consider allowing through the exceptional importation pathway. Health Canada will be able to leverage the existing administrative processes used for enforcement discretion (e.g. non-compliant labelling, shelf-life extension, and authorization in other countries) and remain agile in changing circumstances with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Finally, the Interim Order modifies certain application requirements to allow for the expedited authorization of biocide drugs (such as hard surface disinfectants and hand sanitizers), which are critical to irreversibly destroy or reduce viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 or to reduce microbial presence on the skin. The Interim Order exempts anyone conducting activities solely respecting biocide drugs from the requirement to hold an establishment licence. Division 2 of the Food and Drug Regulations (good manufacturing practices) continues to apply.

This Interim Order will not alter Health Canada’s existing position respecting personal importation.

Consultation

Representatives of provincial and territorial governments, certain industry associations, and other stakeholders are aware of the use of these mechanisms to address shortages of drugs (including hard surface disinfectants), medical devices, and foods for special dietary purposes, in light of the current COVID-19 global pandemic. In addition, many of these stakeholders have previously been involved with the use of enforcement discretion and have indicated their support of this mechanism to address potential shortages in Canada. Due to the urgent nature of the Interim Order, broad stakeholder consultation was not possible. However, it is expected that most stakeholders will be supportive of the Interim Order.

Within the Health Portfolio, the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency have been consulted and are supportive of this Interim Order. In addition, the Canadian Border Services Agency is aware that drugs, medical devices, and foods for special dietary purposes that are authorized or imported under these mechanisms will be identified at the border.

Contact

Catherine Hudon
Director
Compliance Policy and Regulatory Affairs
Policy and Regulatory Strategies Directorate
Regulatory Operations and Enforcement Branch
Health Canada
Address Locator: 1907A
200 Eglantine Driveway
Jeanne Mance Building
7th Floor, Room 705A
Tunney’s Pasture
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0K9
Telephone: 343‑540‑8524
Email: hc.prsd-questionsdspr.sc@canada.ca