The purpose of this consultation is to get your feedback on the proposed Biocides Regulations and the related guidance document.

Health Canada is also holding a separate consultation on the proposed fees. We encourage you to take part in that consultation as well.

Join in: how to participate

Comment through Canada Gazette, Part I

Provide your feedback on the proposed Biocides Regulations through the online feature on Canada Gazette. When the consultation period is over, we will post everyone’s comments.

Send us an email

Send an email to nnhpd.consultation-dpsnso@hc-sc.gc.ca with your ideas, comments or to ask for a copy of the proposed guidance document for biocides.

Who is the focus of this consultation

We are seeking comments from:

• individuals
• academics
• business owners
• industry and regulatory associations
• household and workplace users of biocides
• consumer and patient safety organizations
• manufacturers, packagers, labellers, importers and distributors

Key items for comment

Surface sanitizers and disinfectants (biocides) are regulated under separate regulations in Canada:

• disinfectants are under the Food and Drugs Act
• surface sanitizers are under the Pest Control Products Act

The requirements are also different, even though the risks, benefits, uses and ingredients are similar. Different requirements for similar products:

• makes it difficult to classify products
• creates inconsistency in how Canada regulates biocides
• means there is less alignment with international regulations
• creates administrative differences for manufacturers, distributors and importers of biocides

Health Canada wants to create a new set of regulations for biocides under the Food and Drugs Act and place them under a single regulatory framework. This will:

• ensure the rules for surface sanitizers and disinfectants are the same
• allow us to tailor application and regulatory requirements specifically to these products
• help maintain a safe and effective supply of biocides in Canada
• enable companies to reference decisions from other trusted regulators, starting with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

We also want to get your feedback on the proposed guidance document for biocides. The guidance will explain the requirements for industry.

Note: The following webpages explain the 2 documents that will be incorporated by reference into the proposed Biocides Regulations:

1. List of foreign regulatory authorities for biocides
2. Labelling requirements for pressurized containers containing biocides (pressurized containers labelling document)

Contact us

Bureau of Program Policy, Risk Management and Stakeholder Engagement
Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada
Email: nnhpd.consultation-dpsnso@hc-sc.gc.ca