Health Canada ending interim COVID-19 site licences on alcohol-based hand sanitizers

Health Canada is ending the interim COVID-19 measures that allow retailers to import alcohol-based hand sanitizers using a COVID-19 Site Licences as of September 30^th, 2021.

Retailers who currently import alcohol-based hand sanitizers using a COVID-19 Site Licence and who would like to continue importing hand sanitizers will be required to submit an application for a site licence no later than September 30, 2021at 11:59pm PST. Once their application is successfully submitted they may continue activities under the COVID-19 SL until a licensing decision is issued.

After September 30, 2021, retailers who don’t apply for a permanent site licence cannot import new products. However, they may liquidate their remaining alcohol-based hand sanitizer stock that was imported or manufactured while their interim COVID-19 SL was valid.

Retailerswho submit a new site licence application (i.e., who apply late) to, package, label and / or import alcohol-based hand sanitizers may not be subject to existing service standards AND must stop their activities while waiting for a licensing decision to be issued.