Health Canada is trying to meet the "unprecedented" demand for hand sanitizers, disinfectants, and personal protective equipment by temporarily loosening the regulatory requirements.
The move is an interim measure in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic reached Canadian shores, demand for medical equipment like hospital masks, gowns, and swabs has also sharply increased.
Disinfectants are classified as non-prescription drugs, and hand sanitizers are categorized as natural health products depending on the ingredients.
The health agency is allowing those products to reach those who need them even if they have not been licensed or have bilingual labelling.
The products have been approved in other jurisdictions with similar regulatory frameworks and quality assurances.