Health Canada dealer licence remission policy for missed service standards
On this page
1. Effective date
- 1.1 This policy is effective as of April 1, 2021.
2. Application
- 2.1 This policy applies to remissions to a fee-payer when the service standard is missed in relation to the following service fees:
- Application for a Controlled Substances Dealer's Licence;
- Application for Renewal of a Controlled Substances Dealer's License;
- Application for a Veterinary only Controlled Substances Dealer's Licence; and
- Application for Renewal of a Veterinary only Controlled Substances Dealer's Licence.
- 2.2 This policy does not apply to other types of remissions such as refunds for services not rendered or remissions awarded due to unfairness resulting from administrative errors.
3. Purpose
- 3.1 The purpose of this policy is to establish the criteria for remitting a portion of the above-mentioned fees when their associated service standard is missed for the issuance of a new Dealer's Licence or the issuance of a renewal of a Dealer's Licence.
- 3.2 This policy is pursuant to the requirements of section 7 (Remissions) of the Service Fees Act, as well as section 4.2.4 of the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat's (TBS) Directive on Charging and Special Financial Authorities (the Directive), and Health Canada’s Remission Policy for Missed Service Standardsfor developing fee-specific remission policies.
4. Remission policies
- 4.1 Remission for Missed Overall Service Standard: Pursuant to Health Canada’s Office of Controlled Substance’s Management of Applications for Controlled Drugs and Substances Dealer’s Licence guide (Application Management Guide - AMG), Health Canada will remit when the “Overall Service Standard” is missed for the service fees described under 2.1.
- 4.2 Remission Criteria: An application will qualify for remission when its AMG timeline is missed by one day or more.
- 4.3 Remission Amount: A remission will be granted to the fee-payer for an amount equal to twenty-five percent (25%) of the fee payable when the overall service standard is missed.
- 4.4 Publication: This policy will be published online and made available to the public.
- 4.5 Interest: Interest will not be applied or paid for remissions made.
- 4.6 Notification: When a service standard in relation to a fee is not met and the fee-payer is eligible for a remission, Health Canada will undertake a reasonable effort to locate and notify the fee-payer.
- 4.7 Remission Refusal by a Fee-Payer: Fee-payers may refuse to accept remissions, in which case the department will note, account for and report it in accordance with Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat requirements.
- 4.8 Issuance: Health Canada must remit before July 1 of the fiscal year following the year in which the service standard was missed.
- 4.9 Refund or Credit: Remissions will be provided in the form of a credit on the fee-payers account.
- 4.10 Periodical Review: Health Canada will periodically review its fee-specific remission policies in conjunction with the review of its associated service standards.
- 4.11 Circumstances Beyond the Department's Control: Remissions will not be issued for service standards that were missed due to circumstances outside of the department's control, such as acts of nature that require the removal of personnel or prevent personnel from accessing their workplace (e.g. floods, power failures, etc.); or labour disruptions that prevent the delivery of services.
5. Dispute resolution
- 5.1 If a fee-payer wishes to dispute a remission, said fee payer can submit their dispute in writing, to the Director of the Office of Controlled Substances. The fee-payer must include a summary of the reasons for the dispute and any other relevant supporting documentation
- 5.2 The Office of Controlled Substances will conduct an internal review of the dispute and will communicate the final decision to the fee-payer, in writing, no later than 30 days after the dispute was received by the Office of Controlled Substances.
6. Contacts
- 6.1 The office of primary interest for this Policy is the Office of Controlled Substances. For questions regarding this policy, contact hc.cds-sdc.sc@canada.ca.