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On October 1, 2026, Health Canada’s new Controlled Substances Regulations (CSR) take effect. The regulations replace several separate federal regulations with a single framework for controlled substances and make the authorizations that pharmacy professionals have been using under the temporary subsection 56(1) exemption permanent.
New ACP Advice to the Professions
To help pharmacy professionals prepare, ACP has published a 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.
Authorities now established in regulation
Several of the authorizations that pharmacists and pharmacy technicians have relied on in recent years are now permanently established in federal regulation. These include
- accepting verbal prescriptions for controlled substances from authorized practitioners,
- transferring prescriptions for controlled substances within Canada, and
- extending prescriptions for controlled substances when authorized by legislation and standards.
There are additional authorizations that have been added or expanded.
Changes affecting pharmacy technicians
Beginning October 1, 2026, pharmacy technicians can
- accept verbal prescriptions for controlled substances,
- receive controlled substances on behalf of a pharmacy,
- transfer prescriptions for controlled substances, and
- destroy controlled substances.
Changes affecting pharmacists
When authorized by Alberta legislation and ACP standards, pharmacists may
- extend prescriptions for controlled substances,
- adapt prescriptions for controlled substances,
- therapeutically substitute controlled substances, and
- deprescribe controlled substances.
Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians should be aware that prescriptions for controlled substances may only be transferred and extended within two years of the date the prescription was originally received by a pharmacy.
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. ACP is currently reviewing and updating the standards to align with the new federal regulations. Until those amendments are approved, pharmacy professionals should follow the requirements of the new CSR.
Pharmacy operations
The new regulations also affect pharmacy operations. Activities involving selling controlled substances from a compounding and repackaging pharmacy to a community or institutional pharmacy can now occur without requiring a dealer’s licence.
Learn more
While the new regulations provide additional authorities and flexibility, controlled substances remain subject to specific requirements for security, record keeping, transportation, and destruction. Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians must continue to understand and comply with all applicable federal and provincial requirements when providing patient care.
For additional information, including registration links for upcoming information sessions and other implementation resources, review ACP’s September 8, 2026, article Health Canada’s Controlled Substances Regulations take effect October 1, 2026.
