Health Canada No Longer Requires
Pre-Authorization for Destruction of
Narcotics and Controlled Drugs
Health Canada no longer requires pharmacies to request and receive pre-authorization for local destruction of unserviceable narcotics and controlled drugs. This change is effective immediately and means that pharmacists may proceed with destruction without notifying and receiving acknowledgment from Health Canada in advance.
All other requirements, including documentation, remain in place. See PPP-47 Operational Procedures for Complying with Benzodiazepines and Other Targeted Substances Regulations and PPP-65 Narcotic Counts and Reconciliations for documentation requirements.
The College will be updating its related policies, bylaws and forms to reflect this change. Pharmacists can immediately begin to proceed with the destruction of narcotics and controlled drugs without pre-authorization.
Health Canada Letter - RE: Destruction of CDSA Drugs