GLP-1 peptides and the Canadian rules

Five GLP-1 medicines are on Health Canada's Prescription Drug List by name: semaglutide, tirzepatide, liraglutide, exenatide and dulaglutide. That makes any medication containing them a prescription drug in Canada. Health Canada says only licensed pharmacies can legally sell prescription drugs, and in January 2026 it warned that it had found retailers in Canada selling unauthorized GLP-1 products in stores and online. A research-use label does not change any of this.

This page sets out what the list says, what the rules on selling say, and what Health Canada's 2026 advisory says, in that order. It quotes Canadian sources only.

Which GLP-1 peptides are on the list

These entries appear on Health Canada's Prescription Drug List with no qualifier. Names and dates are copied from the list's row text as read on 4 October 2026.

Name as listed	Date on the list
Semaglutide	2018-03-12
Tirzepatide	2023-03-08
Liraglutide or its salts	2013-12-20
Exenatide or its salts	2013-12-20
Dulaglutide	2016-01-08

"Or its salts" is part of the entry, so salt forms are covered too. Our page on the Prescription Drug List and peptides lists the other peptides on it.

What being on the list means

Health Canada explains how the list works:

"Without a qualifier indicating otherwise, any medication that contains a medicinal ingredient that is on the Prescription Drug List is considered a prescription drug."

Health Canada: Prescription Drug List, retrieved 4 October 2026.

The Food and Drug Regulations tie the legal meaning of the term to the list:

"prescription drug means a drug that is set out in the Prescription Drug List, as amended from time to time, or a drug that is part of a class of drugs that is set out in it;"

Food and Drug Regulations (C.R.C., c. 870), section A.01.010, retrieved 4 October 2026.

So for these five, nothing is left to interpretation: they are listed by name.

Who may sell them

Health Canada sums up the main rule:

"A main requirement for prescription drugs is that they can only be sold to the public by pharmacists, veterinarians or commercial feed mills, based on a prescription from a practitioner."

Health Canada: Prescription Drug List, retrieved 4 October 2026.

The Regulations set it out:

"C.01.041 (1) No person shall sell a prescription drug unless (a) they are entitled under the laws of a province to dispense a prescription drug and they sell it in that province under a verbal or written prescription that they received; or (b) they sell it under section C.01.043."

Food and Drug Regulations (C.R.C., c. 870), retrieved 4 October 2026.

Health Canada's January 2026 advisory on GLP-1 drugs puts it in one line:

"In Canada, only licensed pharmacies can legally sell prescription drugs."

Health Canada public advisory, 21 Jan 2026, retrieved 12 October 2026.

What Health Canada said in January 2026

On 21 January 2026 Health Canada published a public advisory about GLP-1 products. It reports what it had found:

"Health Canada has identified various retailers in Canada selling unauthorized GLP-1 products, both in stores and online."

Health Canada public advisory, 21 Jan 2026, retrieved 12 October 2026.

It gives direct advice:

"Do not buy or use unauthorized GLP-1 drugs, such as semaglutide or tirzepatide."

Health Canada public advisory, 21 Jan 2026, retrieved 12 October 2026.

"Only buy prescription drugs from a licensed pharmacy."

Health Canada public advisory, 21 Jan 2026, retrieved 12 October 2026.

And it describes what it is doing:

"Health Canada is actively monitoring the marketplace and is continuing to take action, such as seizures"

Health Canada public advisory, 21 Jan 2026, retrieved 12 October 2026.

"The Department is also working closely with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) ... to stop unauthorized shipments from entering the country."

Health Canada public advisory, 21 Jan 2026, retrieved 12 October 2026.

Does a research-use label change this?

No. Health Canada's April 2026 advisory on peptides bought online addressed the label in general terms:

"Health Canada continues to identify products marketed as “For Research Use Only – Not for Human Consumption.” This type of labelling does not make these products legal or exempt from regulatory requirements. Canadians are advised not to buy or use products labelled in this way."

Health Canada public advisory, 9 Apr 2026, retrieved 4 October 2026.

For more, read what "research use only" means in Canada.

How to check a product

The January 2026 advisory points to the label:

"checking for the eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN) on the label"

Health Canada public advisory, 21 Jan 2026, retrieved 12 October 2026.

Then search the number in Health Canada's Drug Product Database. Our page DIN, NPN and how to check a product walks through it.

What this means for you

Semaglutide, tirzepatide, liraglutide, exenatide and dulaglutide are prescription drugs in Canada by name. Health Canada says only licensed pharmacies can legally sell prescription drugs, it has found unauthorized GLP-1 products for sale in Canada, and a research-use label does not make a product legal. This library does not publish product or reference pages for any of these five.

When Health Canada publishes on GLP-1 products again, this page is updated. Get one email when it changes.