Adverse Reaction Reporting for Specific Products

If you are currently suffering from a side effect - also known as an adverse reaction - you should contact your health care provider, your local health authority, or the Canadian Association of Poison Control Centres.

Who can report?

Manufacturers, professionals, and consumers can report adverse reactions to Health Canada and its partners using the programs listed below. Depending on the product, reporting is either voluntary or mandatory.

Clinical Trials

Marketed Products

Clinical Trials

Biological Drugs, Pharmaceutical Drugs, and Radiopharmaceuticals

Trial sponsors, also known as applicants, must report to Health Canada any serious and unexpected adverse drug reaction (ADR) that occurred inside and outside Canada while the drug (includes biological drugs) is in clinical trials in Canada. For further information follow the instructions for the Clinical Trials - Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) Reporting.

Examples: vaccines, hormones used as therapeutic and diagnostic agents, enzyme replacement therapies, insulin, recombinant products such as monoclonal antibodies, genetic therapies and recombinant DNA products.

Radiopharmaceuticals include drugs either of chemical or biological origin which are intentionally made radioactive for the purpose of diagnosing illness, as well as kits that are used for the preparation of radiopharmaceutical and radionuclide generators. Radiopharmaceuticals are used as diagnostic or therapeutic agents and are always prepared and administered by health care professionals; they are never self-administered.

Natural Health Products

The sponsor is required to report to Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate Clinical Trial Unit any serious unexpected adverse reactions to the natural health product (NHP) that has occurred inside or outside Canada. For further information regarding when and how an Adverse Reaction report must be filed, see the Clinical Trials for Natural Health Products Guidance Document.

Examples of natural health products are vitamins, minerals, herbal products, homeopathic medicines.

Marketed Products

Blood and Blood Components

Adverse transfusion reactions in recipients of blood and blood components are reported to the Canada Vigilance Program by Blood Establishments such as Héma-Québec, Canadian Blood Services, and hospital blood banks as per the requirements of the Blood Regulations.

Blood - Recombinant and Fractionated Blood Products

You can report suspected adverse reactions to recombinant and fractionated blood products which have undergone a manufacturing process and that have a Drug Identification Number (DIN) to the Canada Vigilance Program through the MedEffect Canada section of the Health Canada Web site. Follow the instructions for reporting adverse reactions.

Examples of blood products include human plasma-derived albumin, anti-hemolytic factors, clotting factors and immune globulins as well as recombinant factors for the treatment of hemophilia.

Cells, Tissues, and Organs

Adverse reactions in transplant recipients of cells, tissues and organs are reported to the Canada Vigilance Program by the Source Establishments who provide the cells, tissues and organs for transplantation as per the requirements of the Safety of Human Cells, Tissues and Organs for Transplantation Regulations.

Consumer Products

Report a product-related injury or death, or a safety-related issue with a consumer product directly to Health Canada by completing the Consumer Product Incident Report Form.

Examples of consumer products include electronics, baby walkers, clothing, toys, children's furniture, cell phones, household appliances, house wares, household cleaners, bicycles, slides and swing sets for backyard use, skates, hockey helmets, hot tubs, tents, and vaping products that are not marketed for therapeutic use.

Cosmetics

For a product-related injury or death, or a safety-related issue with a cosmetic, you are encouraged to report the incident directly to Health Canada by completing the Consumer Product Incident Report Form.

Examples of cosmetics products include: shampoo, teeth whiteners, shaving cream, lipstick, hair dyes and tints, depilatories, soaps, moisturizers, nail polish and removers, and self-tanning products. This includes cosmetics used by consumers, by professional aesthetic services, and bulk institutional products (such as hand soap in school rest rooms).

Drugs for Humans

Suspected adverse reactions to drugs marketed in Canada, including prescription and non-prescription drugs can be reported to the Canada Vigilance Program. Follow the instructions for reporting adverse reactions provided in the MedEffect Canada section of the Health Canada Web site.

Examples of prescription and non-prescription medicines (over-the-counter) include: pharmaceuticals, biologics (such as insulin and vaccines), radiopharmaceuticals, disinfectants and sanitizers with disinfectant claims.

Drugs Used in Animals

Report suspected adverse reactions to drugs used in animals - including a lack of effect - through the Adverse Drug Reactions (Pharmacovigilance) Web site. You will also find safety information such as advisories, warnings, and recalls for veterinary products on the Veterinary Drugs Directorate section of the Health Canada Web site.

Examples of drugs used in animals include prescription and non-prescription medicines (over-the-counter) such as analgesics, antibiotics, antiparasitics, and growth promotants.

Food

Adverse reactions to food products experienced by consumers or reported to industry should be reported to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. You can use the Recall Contact List for Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) Notification to find local phone numbers.

Examples of food include dairy, egg, egg products, fish, seafood, honey, fresh/processed fruits and vegetables, organic products, meat and poultry, and retail food.

Medical Devices

Medical device users are encouraged to report device-related incidents directly to Health Canada by completing a Health Product Complaint Form. Completed problem reports and general inquiries are to be directed to the Operational Centre of the Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate in your area.

Examples of medical devices include defibrillators, syringes, surgical lasers, hip implants, medical laboratory diagnostic instruments (including X-ray, ultrasound devices), contact lenses, and condoms.

Adverse reactions and incidents relating to radiation emitting medical devices can also voluntarily be reported to the Radiation Emitting Devices Program.

Natural Health Products for Humans

Suspected adverse reactions to natural health products marketed in Canada, such as herbal products, natural remedies and homeopathic medicines, can be reported to the Canada Vigilance Program provided in the MedEffect Canada section of the Health Canada Web site. Follow the instructions for reporting adverse reactions.

Examples of natural health products include vitamins, minerals, traditional medicines such as traditional Chinese medicines, probiotics, and other products like amino acids and essential fatty acids.

Pesticides

Report any incident related to a pesticide, whether it involves adverse effects on a human, an animal, or the environment, to the manufacturer using the contact information available on the pesticide label. Manufacturers are required by law to report to Health Canada any incident information they receive related to their product.

You may also report an incident directly to Health Canada by using the appropriate Pesticide Incident Reporting Form for the Public available on the Pesticide Incident Reporting page.

Examples of pesticides include insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and various other substances (or mix of substances) used to control pests, such as insects, fungus, weeds, animal or bacterial organisms.

Radiation-Emitting Devices

Report an adverse reaction or an incident related to a radiation-emitting device to the Consumer and Clinical Radiation Protection Bureau.

Examples of radiation-emitting devices include ultrasound equipment, X-ray devices, microwave ovens, tanning equipment, or lasers.

For radiation-emitting devices used to diagnose or treat a medical condition, adverse reactions and injuries are subject to mandatory reporting to the Medical Devices Program and may be voluntarily reported to this program.

Semen - Assisted Conception

Physicians who have performed inseminations are to report suspected transmissions of an infectious agent by donor semen to the semen processor. The semen processor is then responsible for reporting these suspected transmissions, to the Minister of Health, by sending a copy of the report to Health Canada, Health Product Complaint.

This only applies to donor semen that is used or intended for use in assisted conception.

Vaccines to Prevent Disease in Humans

Health care professionals are encouraged to report any adverse reactions following immunization to their local health unit. Patients are encouraged to report adverse events to their vaccine provider or other health care professional.

Examples of preventative vaccines include vaccines against polio, measles, and rubella (German measles).

Veterinary Biologics

The Veterinary Biologics Section (VBS) of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) should be notified of suspected adverse reactions to veterinary biologics. Veterinary biologics include the following classes of products: vaccines against viral, bacterial, protozoan and fungal diseases, antibody products for the prevention or treatment of infectious diseases in animals and vitro diagnostic kits, including those derived through biotechnology.

Examples of veterinary biologics products include rabies, canine distemper, or equine West Nile vaccines. The Guidelines for Reporting Suspected Adverse Events to the Veterinary Biologics Section (VBS) provide more information. The recommended form used to notify VBS of suspected adverse reactions is available for downloading from the Guidance for Reporting Suspected Adverse Events Web site.

Page details

Date modified: