. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/TBT/N/CAN/381 
8 January 2013  
 (13-0063) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:   English/ 
 French 
 
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
The following notification is being circ ulated in accordance with Article 10.6 
 
1. Notifying Member:  CANADA  
If applicable, name of local governme nt involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):     
2. Agency responsible:  Department of Health 
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above :  Canadian Enquiry 
Point, 200-270 Albert Street, Ottawa, Ontari o, Canada, K1P 6N7 Tel.:  +1 613 238 3222, 
Fax:  +1 613 569 7808, E-mail:  enquirypoint@scc.ca    
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other:   
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Controlled substances 
(HS 12.11; ICS: 11.120). 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Proposed Marihuana 
for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR) (115 pages, available in English and French).     
6. Description of content:  Marihuana (cannabis) is categori zed as a controlled substance, 
regulated in Canada under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act  (CDSA).  
In 2001, the Marihuana Medical Ac cess Regulations  (MMAR) were promulgated. The 
MMAR sets out a scheme for Canadians to acces s marihuana for medical purposes, if they 
have the support of a medical practitioner. 
Growth in Program participation has had unint ended consequences for the administration of 
the MMAR, but more importantly, for public he alth, safety and security as a result of 
authorizing individuals to produce marihuana in private dwellings.  
The proposed Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations  (MMPR) would authorize the 
following key activities:  
- the possession of dried marihuana by individuals who have the support of an 
authorized health care practitioner to  use marihuana for medical purposes; 
- the production of dried marihuana  by licensed producers only; and 
- the direct sale and distribution of dried marihuana by specific regulated parties to 
individuals who are elig ible to possess it. 
Security requirements would be in place for the production si te and key personnel of the 
licensed producer.  Standards for packagi ng, transportation and record-keeping would 
contribute to achieving security objectives. Qual ity and sanitation standards appropriate for a 
product for medical use will be in place. G/TBT/N/CAN/381 
Page 2  
 
  Licensed producers would be perm itted to engage in the import or export of marihuana if they 
have obtained an import or export permit from Health Canada.  The import/export permit 
scheme would be similar to that for other contro lled substances and is intended to maintain 
control over the movement of controlled subs tances, consistent with  Canada's obligations 
under international conventions on the control of  narcotic drugs and ps ychotropic substances. 
The proposed MMPR include a number of conse quential changes to the MMAR, as well as 
two transitional registration schemes, that w ould allow for gradual transition to the new 
regulatory regime.  The MMAR would be repealed on 31 March 2014.   
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:  
Human health and safety.  
To maintain control over the production and di stribution of marihuana for medical purposes, 
as required by international conventions on th e control of narcotic drugs and psychotropic 
substances.   
8. Relevant documents:   Canada Gazette , Part I, 15 Decembe r 2012, Pages 3422-3536 
(Available in English and French).   
9. Proposed date of adoption:   
Proposed date of entry into force:    At least 6 months after publication in the 
Canada Gazette , Part I. 
The regulation would come into force on the 
day on which it is published in the Canada 
Gazette , Part II.  
10. Final date for comments:  28 February 2013. 
11. Text available from:  National enquiry point [X], or address, telephone and fax 
numbers, e-mail and web-site addres ses, if available of the other body:    
The electronic version of the regulat ory text can be downloaded at:  
http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2012 /2012-12-15/pdf/g1-14650.pdf#page=48  ( Canada 
Gazette )  
or 
http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/ p1/2012/2012-12-15/html/reg4-eng.html    (English) 
http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/ p1/2012/2012-12-15/html/reg4-fra.html    (French)