Non-prescription Drugs: Category IV Monographs

A non-prescription drug Category IV Monograph outlines the permissible conditions of use and labelling requirements, such as dose, intended use, directions for use, warnings, active ingredients and combinations thereof. Category IV Monographs are developed for drugs that have a well characterized safety and efficacy profile under specific conditions of use. A manufacturer may reference a Category IV Monograph in a drug submission when the product and its labelling are consistent with the information set out in the document.

When a Category IV Monograph does not exist, or when a product or its labelling is outside the scope of a published Category IV Monograph, the sponsor must submit evidence to support the safety, efficacy, and quality of the product when used according to the proposed conditions of use. Examples of these situations include, but are not limited to:

  • the directions for use are not provided for in the Category IV Monograph;
  • an active ingredient is not provided for in the Category IV Monograph;
  • a strength or dose is outside the limits allowable by the Category IV Monograph:
  • the product combines aspects of more than one Category IV Monograph which are not explicitly provided for in an individual Category IV Monograph; or
  • the proposed product is a New Drug.

Please note that all products are subject to Good Manufacturing Practices outlined in Part C, Division 2 of the Food and Drug Regulations whether or not the drug submission references a Category IV Monograph. For more information on the drug submission process, please refer to the guidance document Guidance for Industry: Management of Drug Submissions.

Please note that if a product contains a combination of both a drug and a natural health product as active ingredients, then the overall product is deemed a drug and the Food & Drug Regulations apply.

The Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate (formerly the NHPD) is responsible for the regulatory oversight of non-prescription products and natural health products.

For those products which had previously been captured by a Therapeutic Products Directorate (TPD) Category IV Monograph or Labelling Standard, but which contain active ingredients classified as either drugs or natural health products, the TPD and NNHPD have undertaken to jointly revise the affected monograph in consultation with external stakeholders. The harmonized monographs will facilitate the regulatory review process and establish consistent guidelines for labelling requirements.

The Category IV Monographs include:

Monographs for disinfectant drugs are located at:

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