Drug Identification Number
Encyclopedia
Any product defined as a drug
under the Canadian
Food and Drugs Act
must have an associated Drug Identification Number (or DIN).
The Drug Identification Number (DIN) is the 8 digit number located on the label of prescription and over-the-counter drug
products that have been evaluated by the Therapeutic Products Directorate
(TPD) and approved for sale in Canada. The DIN is typically an eight digit number.
Once a drug has been approved, the Therapeutic Products Directorate issues a DIN which permits the manufacturer to market the drug in Canada. For drugs where there is minimal market history in Canada, there is a more stringent review and the drug is required to have a Notice of Compliance and a DIN in order to be marketed in Canada.
A DIN lets the user know that the product has undergone and passed a review of its formulation, labeling and instructions for use. A drug product sold in Canada without a DIN is not in compliance with Canadian law.
The DIN is also a tool to help in the follow-up of products on the market, recall of products, inspections, and quality monitoring.
Drug
A drug, broadly speaking, is any substance that, when absorbed into the body of a living organism, alters normal bodily function. There is no single, precise definition, as there are different meanings in drug control law, government regulations, medicine, and colloquial usage.In pharmacology, a...
under the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Food and Drugs Act
Food and Drugs Act
Food and Drugs Act is an Act of the Parliament of Canada regarding the production, import, export, transport across provinces and sale of food, drugs, contraceptive devices and cosmetics...
must have an associated Drug Identification Number (or DIN).
The Drug Identification Number (DIN) is the 8 digit number located on the label of prescription and over-the-counter drug
Over-the-counter drug
Over-the-counter drugs are medicines that may be sold directly to a consumer without a prescription from a healthcare professional, as compared to prescription drugs, which may be sold only to consumers possessing a valid prescription...
products that have been evaluated by the Therapeutic Products Directorate
Therapeutic Products Directorate
Therapeutic Products Directorate is a Canadian federal authority that regulates pharmaceutical drugs and medical devices for human use, a role performed by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States...
(TPD) and approved for sale in Canada. The DIN is typically an eight digit number.
Once a drug has been approved, the Therapeutic Products Directorate issues a DIN which permits the manufacturer to market the drug in Canada. For drugs where there is minimal market history in Canada, there is a more stringent review and the drug is required to have a Notice of Compliance and a DIN in order to be marketed in Canada.
A DIN lets the user know that the product has undergone and passed a review of its formulation, labeling and instructions for use. A drug product sold in Canada without a DIN is not in compliance with Canadian law.
The DIN is also a tool to help in the follow-up of products on the market, recall of products, inspections, and quality monitoring.