Health Canada assigns a unique Drug Identification Number to each pharmaceutical product authorized for sale in Canada. This identifier is mandatory for both prescription and non-prescription medications, enabling precise tracking throughout the distribution network and ensuring supply chain integrity. The DIN serves as a critical tool for product identification, post-market surveillance, recalls, and quality monitoring.

Pharmaceutical entities operating in Canada must adhere to stringent notification protocols. Manufacturers are required to report to Health Canada when a product is first available for sale, if a product has not been sold for a 12-month period, or when sales are discontinued. The annual notification requirement further mandates that manufacturers update Health Canada on the status of each DIN product by October 1st each year.

Canada's regulatory framework emphasizes lot-level traceability throughout the pharmaceutical supply chain. Recent updates require manufacturers to submit specific lot numbers when notifying discontinuation of sale, enhancing the ability to track products with precision. This system supports efficient recall management and robust post-market surveillance of pharmaceutical products.

All authorized pharmaceuticals with assigned DINs are documented in Health Canada's Drug Product Database, creating a centralized information repository accessible to healthcare professionals and regulators. This integration supports comprehensive traceability while promoting transparency across the pharmaceutical ecosystem. The database serves as a critical resource for verification and compliance monitoring.