New Controlled Substances Regulations Now in Effect

As of today, October 1, 2026, Health Canada’s Controlled Substances Regulations are in effect. Continue reading to learn how these changes may impact you.

Pharmacists and interns are authorized by these regulations to:

• Accept verbal prescriptions for controlled substances from a practitioner
• Order and receive controlled substances
• Transfer prescriptions for controlled substances to another pharmacist or pharmacy technician in Canada within two years of the date of receipt
• Extend (renew) or adapt prescriptions for controlled substances within two years of the date of receipt
• De-prescribe controlled substance prescriptions as an adaptation, or part-fill them in accordance with the Drug Interchangeability and Dispensing Fee Act 

Pharmacy technicians and intern technicians are authorized by these regulations to:

• Accept verbal prescriptions for controlled substances from a practitioner
• Receive controlled substances
• Transfer prescriptions for controlled substances to another pharmacy technician or pharmacist in Canada within two years of the date of receipt
• Destroy controlled substances or serve as a witness during their destruction at the pharmacy 

Additional Resources
To support pharmacy professionals in applying these changes in practice, we have developed an information hub. It includes:  

• A summary of the key changes
• FAQs 
• Quick reference table of key changes
• Links to Health Canada’s information sessions
• Health Canada guidance

Changes have been made to our website to reflect the new Controlled Substances Regulations. We are currently reviewing our Pharmacy Connection article, “Destruction of Controlled Substances: Expectation from Health Canada,” to ensure it reflects these changes. While updates are being made, the article has been temporarily unpublished from our website.