Health Canada Reclassifies Disinfectants

High-Level Disinfectants Reclassified…Be in the know.

By: Sarah Calder, Regulatory Affairs Specialist, email

Last month Health Canada released a notice of the reclassification of high-level disinfectants and sterilants used on medical devices in Canada. As of March 16, 2018, these products are regulated under the Medical Devices Bureau as Class II Medical Devices, and will no longer regulate as drugs under the Food and Drugs Act.

The purpose of this reclassification was to bring into line products sold in Canada, with the United States and other countries, where high-level disinfectants and sterilants are currently regulated as medical devices.

Under the Medical Device Regulations these products, used on semi-critical and critical medical devices, will be required to demonstrate the quality, safety, and effectiveness of label claims. This involves an evaluation of manufacturing quality, a complete application for licensing, and label compliance. New-to-market products will be required to meet these regulations, whereas those with existing market authorization will have an 18-month transition period to come into compliance.

Are your products affected?  Do you need assistance with your Class II Medical Device license application? Are you unsure if your product is a high-level disinfectant or still categorized as an antimicrobial agent under the Food and Drug Regulations? Contact Dell Tech today for product registrations and hazard classification testing.

Dell Tech has provided professional, confidential consulting services to the specialty chemical 

industry in Canada, the USA, Europe, and Asia for the last 40 years.