Interim guide on isopropyl alcohol for use in alcohol-based hand sanitizers and disinfectants: Overview

Many companies that Health Canada doesn't regulate are interested in providing other quality grades of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) to help address demand for products during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Health Canada developed a licensing approach to produce and distribute alcohol-based hand sanitizers on March 27, 2020 (updated on July 13, 2020) for companies. The guide has useful information on the authorizations required to manufacture, package, label, import and/or distribute alcohol-based hand sanitizers. It also includes information on how to obtain the required authorizations (a product licence and/or a site licence) during this emergency.

This interim guide contains more information on the use of isopropyl alcohol (also known as isopropanol) in alcohol-based hand sanitizers and disinfectants. The interim guide:

• provides further guidance on quality requirements and hand sanitizer formulations
• highlights acceptable formulations and considerations for companies interested in manufacturing and importing IPA-based products during this emergency

To protect the health and safety of Canadians, we remain committed to providing high-quality, safe products while balancing the need for exceptional measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This interim approach takes into account the current policies and best practices of foreign regulatory partners as well as recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO). We will lift these interim measures when the regular supply of IPA stabilizes.