Repeal of Ephedrine and Pseudoephedrine Sale Rules

Summary#

This is the Order Repealing the Order Establishing Supplementary Rules Respecting the Sale of Natural Health Products Containing Ephedrine or Pseudoephedrine (SOR/2025-264). It removes an earlier order (SOR/2025-93) that set extra rules on the sale of natural health products with ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, and was registered by the Minister of Health, Marjorie Michel, on December 9, 2025 and published in the Canada Gazette on December 17, 2025. The repeal takes effect when a related regulation is published (or on the day this repeal is registered if that happens later).

What it does#

• Repeals the earlier order SOR/2025-93, which had established supplementary sale rules for natural health products containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine.
• Says the repeal was made under the Food and Drugs Act because the Minister believes the earlier order is no longer needed to reduce the health risks from misuse.
• Sets the coming-into-force rule: this repeal becomes effective on the day the Regulations Amending the Precursor Control Regulations (Increased Regulatory Oversight) (published as SOR/2025-260) appear in the Canada Gazette, Part II; if the repeal is registered after that day, it takes effect on its registration day.

Who's affected#

• Makers, importers, distributors and retailers of natural health products that contain ephedrine or pseudoephedrine.
• People who buy or use such natural health products.
• Organizations that track or enforce rules about these products (the item does not name specific agencies beyond the Minister of Health).

If it is unclear exactly how sellers or buyers will be affected, that is because the repeal notice does not list the specific supplementary rules that are being removed. More detail is referenced in the Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement linked to SOR/2025-260.

Why it matters#

• Repealing the order removes the extra, specific sale rules for products with ephedrine or pseudoephedrine. That could change how those products are sold, displayed, or controlled, depending on what the original rules required.
• The timing is linked to another regulatory change (SOR/2025-260), so the practical effects may not be immediate and depend on that publication or on registration timing.
• The government’s stated reason is that the earlier order is no longer needed to manage health risks from misuse. The short Gazette notice does not give details about the original rules or the expected practical outcomes; readers who want the full analysis are pointed to the Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement that accompanies SOR/2025-260.