If you are currently using a COVID-19 Site Licence to manufacture, package, label, or import alcohol-based hand sanitizers, your licence will expire September 30, 2021.

Background

In August of 2020, a bulletin from the Natural and Non-Prescription Health Products Directorate (NNHPD) of Health Canada had announced that July 13, 2020, would mark the end of the COVID-19 interim measures for the manufacture, packaging, labelling, and importation of hand sanitizers. This meant that any companies looking to apply for a new interim COVID-19 Site Licence (e.g. COV0001) would have had to have applied prior to July 13, 2020. This however did not impact current interim COVID-19 Site Licence holders, who could continue all activities under their interim COVID-19 Site Licence (SL), and would be given 60 days notice prior to their SL expiry date, once that date had been determined by Health Canada.

That expiry date has now been determined to be September 30, 2021.

What do you need to do?

If you wish to cease activities carried out under your interim COVID-19 Site Licence (SL) you must take the following actions:

1. Request that your interim COVID-19 SL be discontinued ahead of September 30 by email to the NNHPD at: hc.nnhpd-dpsnso.sc@canada.ca
2. After September 30, liquidate any remaining alcohol-based hand sanitizer stock that was manufactured, packaged, labelled, or imported under the COVID 19 SL
3. Keep samples of products and records in the even that a recall is necessary, as per sections 53-58 and 62 of the NHPR

If you wish to continue activities carried out under your interim COVID-19 SL you must take the following actions:

1. Submit a complete site licence application (SLA) by September 30, 2021 at 11:59 pm PST
2. Cease all activities carried out under your interim COVID-19 SL if your SLA has not been submitted, or is incomplete or refused after September 30, 2021

If you have any questions or need any assistance submitting a complete site licence application for your hand sanitizer products, please contact us.