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Health Canada’s new Controlled Substances Regulations (CSR) took effect on October 1, 2026. To support regulated members in implementing these new regulations into their practice, Health Canada has published the following guidance document: Guidance on controlled substances for community pharmacists and pharmacy technicians (CS-GD-022): Overview.
This document identifies regulatory requirements and provides guidance and recommendations to pharmacists and pharmacy technicians practising in community pharmacies on how they can comply with those requirements. Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians practising in a hospital or other healthcare settings are outside the scope of this guidance document.
Key points to remember
Regulated members are reminded about the following key points related to the new CSR:
- The regulations replace several separate federal regulations with a single framework for controlled substances and make the authorizations that regulated members have been using under the temporary subsection 56(1) exemption permanent.
- As of October 1, 2026, the federal restrictions reflected in Standard 8.1.2(b)(i) of the Standards of Practice for Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians no longer apply. As a result, prescriptions for Schedule 1 drugs, including benzodiazepines and other controlled substances, may be refilled for up to 18 months after the prescription was first filled, provided authorized refills remain on the prescription.
- ACP is currently reviewing and updating the standards to align with the new federal regulations. Until those amendments are approved, regulated members should follow the requirements of the new CSR.
Additional resources
Regulated members may also refer to the following:
- ACP’s new Advice to the Professions: Controlled Substances Regulations: prescribing, adapting, transferring, and providing care for patients. The document provides practical guidance for common activities involving controlled substances and highlights important considerations for patient care.
- Link article from September 22, 2026: New federal Controlled Substances Regulations take effect October 1, 2026. This article includes highlights of what is included in the new CSR and what these changes mean for regulated members.
