- Health Canada Ministerial Order on the Sale of Natural Health Products Containing Ephedrine or Pseudoephedrine
- Pharmacy Manager Training Program Reminder
- 2024 Annual Report Available Now
- Save the Date: CPhM 2025 Annual General Meeting
- Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) Qualifying Examination Blueprints Survey
- Employment Opportunity: Practice Consultant – Policy and Legislation
- Professional Development Opportunities & Upcoming Events
Health Canada Ministerial Order on the Sale of Natural Health Products Containing Ephedrine or Pseudoephedrine
Health Canada has issued a new Ministerial Order (SOR/2025-93), establishing supplementary rules for the sale of Natural Health Products (NHPs) containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, which will come into effect on May 18, 2025. This Order supersedes the 2024 Interim Order, which expires on May 17, 2025.
The Ministerial Order and the preceding Interim Order were deemed necessary by Health Canada as ephedrine and pseudoephedrine were unscheduled by the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) as of June 28, 2024.
The new Health Canada rules introduce place-of-sale restrictions for two categories of ephedrine or pseudoephedrine-containing NHPs:
1. Non-Combination Products
These are single-ingredient NHPs containing only ephedrine or pseudoephedrine. They must:
- Be sold only at pharmacy retail locations.
- Be sold exclusively by pharmacists or individuals* under their supervision.
- Not be accessible for self-selection by the public.
*Note that sections 84(1) and 84(2) of the provincial Pharmaceutical Regulation strengthen this requirement for single-ingredient pseudoephedrine products, requiring that:
- The sale be made only by the pharmacist;
- Pharmacists directly assess the patient to ensure appropriateness of therapy; and
- The quantity sold does not exceed 3,600 mg at the time of purchase.
2. Combination Products
These are NHPs containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, combined with one or more substances listed in Schedule 1 of the Natural Health Products Regulations (NHPR)**. These products:
- Must be sold only at pharmacy retail locations; and
- May remain in the self-selection areas of the pharmacy, provided that a pharmacist is available upon request to discuss the product with the consumer before purchase.
**Note that this order does not apply to non-prescription drug products (i.e., those with a Drug Identification Number [DIN]) that combine ephedrine or pseudoephedrine with other medicinal ingredients. These DIN-holding non-prescription combination products will be addressed through a separate consultation process, as outlined in Health Canada’s Notice of Intent (published on Feb 1, 2025). Any resulting Ministerial Orders may impose further restrictions in the future. CPhM is also currently collaborating with the provincial government to implement further provincial restrictions on the sale of these DIN-holding non-prescription combination products.
Pharmacy Manager Training Program Reminder
The Pharmacy Manager Training Program is a mandatory requirement for all pharmacy managers in Manitoba, designed to support pharmacy professionals in their leadership roles and promote safe, effective practice.
The program focuses on the legislative requirements of a pharmacy manager, including essential operations, proper supervision, appropriate management of medication incidents, and maintaining pharmacy security. Developed in collaboration with Manitoba subject matter experts and the University of Saskatchewan’s Continuing Pharmacy Education (USask CPE), the Pharmacy Manager Training Program ensures pharmacy managers are equipped to uphold safe and effective practice.
Aimed to help and support pharmacy managers navigate these responsibilities with confidence, this comprehensive training program ensures all pharmacy managers receive consistent proactive education on the operational and regulatory expectations of their role. The desired result is to ultimately improve the quality and consistency of patient care across the province.
The self-directed program includes nine modules and is accredited for 25 Continuing Education Units (CEU). It must be completed by February 1, 2026, for those designated as pharmacy manager on or before February 1, 2025, or within one year of becoming a pharmacy manager.
Multiple pharmacy managers and pharmacists have completed the program, consistently providing positive feedback. A recent participant shared:
“[It was a] great refresher on a lot of details on certain topics and procedures that often get overlooked during the busy workflow in a Pharmacy. {It} helped us evaluate all of our policies and procedures to ensure we are meeting all the standards and requirements.”
CPhM remains committed to supporting pharmacy managers through a proactive approach by offering practical tools and educational resources to help them succeed in their unique and important roles within the pharmacy environment to protect the public interest.
For more information and to access the FAQ, visit: https://cphm.ca/pharmacy-manager-training-program/.
2024 Annual Report Available Now
The 2024 Annual Report from the College of Pharmacists of Manitoba (CPhM) is now available.
This year’s report includes updates on key initiatives, a summary of financial statements, and highlights from CPhM’s ongoing efforts to support safe and effective pharmacy practice in Manitoba.
To view the full report, click here: https://cphm.ca/feature-story/cphm-2024-annual-report/
Any questions can be directed to communications@cphm.ca.
Save the Date: CPhM 2025 Annual General Meeting
The College of Pharmacists of Manitoba (CPhM) will hold its 147th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
We encourage all attendees to familiarize themselves with the documents in the AGM meeting package before the meeting.
AGM Meeting package:
How to participate:
The AGM is a virtual event and will be held by webinar. You must register in advance to attend.
Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/8417428469204/WN_QpP-HaeJTQmIC6dKzCbgMw
For more information and full details, please visit CPhM 2025 Annual General Meeting | College of Pharmacists of Manitoba
Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) Qualifying Examination Blueprints Survey
The following information is shared on behalf of Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC).
PEBC is surveying the importance of entry-to-practice competencies for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians that are essential for public protection. The survey results will help revise the PEBC Qualifying Examination blueprints, maintaining the validity and relevance of the exams for assessing the competence of entry-to-practice pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
The survey is open to practising pharmacy professionals in Canada and all responses are confidential. Upon completion of the survey, an optional draw is available for a chance to win one of ten prizes of $100 each. PEBC will also make a monetary donation to the Canadian Mental Health Association for each survey completed.
Please click here to access the survey until June 20, 2025.
Employment Opportunity: Practice Consultant – Policy and Legislation
The College of Pharmacists of Manitoba is presently in search of a part-time (0.8 FTE), Practice Consultant – Policy and Legislation to fill a leave of absence. This individual must be able to work independently in a self-directed environment while also having the ability to effectively collaborate with other staff. Assets include prior experience working in a regulatory environment, and a working knowledge of health-professions legislation.
For a complete description of the duties, qualifications, and required attributes for this position, and to apply, view the on-line posting: https://cphm.ca/feature-story/employment-opportunity-practice-consultant-policy-and-legislation/
Applications will be reviewed from all sources as received until the position is filled.
The College values diversity and inclusion and encourages all qualified people to apply.
Professional Development Opportunities & Upcoming Events
2025 Mandatory Professional Development – Advancing Equity in Pharmacy: Supporting Gender Diversity and 2SLGBTQ+ Patients
Pharmacy professionals who were unable to attend the live webinar on February 5, 2025, must view a recording of the 2025 mandatory continuing education session by clicking here.
Optimizing Prescription Writing: Essentials and Updates in 30 Minutes
- Click here to access the prerecorded webinar
- 1.0 CEU