Interim COVID‑19 Rules for Drugs and Devices

Summary#

The Governor General in Council approved the Interim Order Respecting Drugs, Medical Devices and Foods for a Special Dietary Purpose in Relation to COVID-19. That interim order was made by the Minister of Health on March 30, 2020, and this approval (P.C. 2020-241 on April 8, 2020) keeps it in force beyond the initial 14 days limit and up to a maximum of one year or until replaced or repealed.

What it does#

• Approves the interim order made under the Food and Drugs Act on March 30, 2020.
• Prevents the interim order from automatically ending after 14 days.
• States the interim order will instead end on whichever comes first:
  • the day it is repealed,
  • the day that final regulations with the same effect come into force, or
  • one year after it was made.

Who's affected#

• Anyone involved with products covered by the interim order: producers, importers, distributors, health-care purchasers, and others connected to drugs, medical devices and foods for a special dietary purpose related to COVID‑19.
• The notice itself is an approval step; it does not change the text of the interim order.
• The source does not list specific companies, groups, or exact activities that will be affected.

Why it matters#

• This approval lets the temporary rules stay operating longer than the initial 14-day window.
• That gives regulators and businesses time to use the interim measures while permanent regulations are developed or until the order is repealed.
• For the public, it means any emergency steps in the interim order relating to COVID‑19 supplies and products can continue to apply for now.