Controlled substances
The new Controlled Substances Regulations were published on December 17, 2025 and will replace the current regulations for controlled substances on October 1, 2026. For more information, please see the Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement.
The Office of Controlled Substances (OCS) works in collaboration with Canadian and international stakeholders in the public and private sectors to ensure that controlled substances remain in legal distribution channels and valid commercial, medical and scientific activities with these substances are not interfered with.
The following pages will be of use to pharmaceutical, chemical, food, testing and research organizations requiring licencing and permits to produce, make, assemble, import, export, sell, provide, transport, send or deliver controlled substances.
Similar pages are devoted specifically to the licences and permits for Precursor Chemicals. All legislative documents related to controlled substances are contained in the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Narcotic Control Regulations, Parts G and J of the Food and Drug Regulations, and the Benzodiazepines and Other Targeted Substances Regulations. Canadian legislation has been developed in compliance with the UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961 as amended by 1972 Protocol, and the UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971. The international conventions and related articles and schedules can be found on the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) website.
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Application forms
Please use the PDF versions to fill the forms out and save them to your computer. The filled PDF forms must be printed and signed to be considered complete. Instructions on how to submit the applications forms to the OCS can be found in the last section of each form.
In order to clarify expectations and increase predictability in the federal regulatory system, the OCS commits to the following Service Standards for High-Volume Regulatory Authorizations.
- Application for Export Permit for Controlled Substance or Precursors
- Application for Import Permit for Controlled Substance or Class A Precursor
- Application for a Controlled Drugs and Substances Dealer's Licence (PDF, 968 KB)
- Application for Amendment of a Controlled Drugs and Substances Dealer's Licence (PDF, 1.30 MB)
- Application for Changes Affecting Personnel in Charge (PDF, 780 KB)