Shipping prescribed drugs within Canada is strictly regulated, and only authorized individuals or entities are legally permitted to do so. It becomes even more challenging when the medication needs to stay refrigerated, such as insulin, to ensure it remains effective and safe for use.
That said, shipping medication can be an incredibly helpful solution in certain situations—for instance, if your friend forgot their insulin at home, or your child left for a two-week vacation without packing essential medication.
Let’s explore what’s permitted and what precautions you should take when shipping refrigerated medications in Canada.
Related article: Why do you need to refrigerate insulin and how to store it properly?
Prefer watching instead of reading? Check out the video below.
Is it allowed to ship insulin & other medications in the mail in Canada?
When mailing a package in Canada, you must adhere to strict regulations, along with the rules set by Canada Post or private couriers like FedEx and UPS.
In addition to prohibited items such as explosives, flammable substances, controlled drugs, perishable goods, and alcohol, prescription medications are subject to stringent regulations, whether they are shipped within Canada or internationally.
Can you ship prescription drugs in Canada?
The asnwer is yes, but only certain authorized entities, such as pharmacies, licensed medical practitioners, or registered drug manufacturers, can legally send prescription drugs by mail.
Individuals are not permitted to mail prescription medications in Canada, even if it’s within the same province. For example, you can’t mail insulin to a friend who forgot it at your house, even with good intentions.
The exceptions include:
- Returning medication to the pharmacy or manufacturer.
- Shipping authorized drugs within special circumstances allowed by Health Canada regulations.
Related article: International Travels with Insulin: Carrying Insulin on Flights and Managing Time Zones
How to ship prescription drugs internationally
Similar to domestic rules, shipping prescription medications internationally involves strict compliance. Medications must adhere to Health Canada’s standards, and the destination country’s import regulations must also be met. In most cases, only authorized pharmacies or medical suppliers are allowed to ship prescription drugs across borders.
Related article: How to Travel with Refrigerated Medications?
How to ship insulin or other refrigerated medications in Canada?
The most important thing is to always comply with the strict shipping regulations (see above), wether you're shipping within Canada or internationally.
Apart from that, if you’re shipping medications that need refrigeration, such as insulin or vaccines, you should always ensure proper temperature control during transit. If the medication is not properly stored, it will go bad and won't be safe for use.
Related article: How to Keep Insulin Cool While Traveling?
Follow these steps to ensure safe shipping:
- Use insulated cooling bags or medical-grade cooler boxes with ice packs or gel packs.
- Secure the medication inside the package to minimize movement and friction.
- Coordinate with the courier to confirm delivery timelines and avoid extreme weather conditions.
Related article: How long can refrigerated medicines be left out?
4AllFamily's medical-grade travel coolers
For shipping insulin or other refrigerated medications, we recommend using medical-grade travel coolers that ensure your medications remain at the correct temperature.
4AllFamily offers reliable solutions for transporting temperature-sensitive medicines.
Our Nomad Cooling Case for Insulin and refrigerated drugs maintains a temperature of 2-8°C for up to 26 hours, even in 40°C heat! It holds up to 3-4 insulin pens and uses simple Biogel Freeze Packs.
Need to ship a larger quantity? Consider the Explorer 72-hour 3-in-1 medicine travel cooler, which holds up to 7 insulin pens or 8 vials.
Have questions about our products? Contact us, and our team will be happy to assist!
Documents and information
When shipping insulin or other refrigerated prescription medications in Canada, provide the following details to the courier:
- A copy of the medical prescription.
- A copy of the recipient’s identification.
- The recipient’s doctor’s contact information.
- The type, dosage, and quantity of medication.
- Any additional documentation required by the courier.
Remember: shipping prescription medications within Canada is regulated. Check with the courier and ensure compliance with the law beforehand.
Related article: Tips for traveling with medication nationally and internationally.
