Last updated: March 2026.
This guide reflects current Health Canada designated device registration guidance for capsule filling machines
You might think that the process is as simple as click 'buy' and pay. And in many cases, that works out for people!
However, there is a specific law in place that requires one extra step before importing a capsule filling machine into Canada. Just as is true with the DEA in the USA, this Health Canada law requires every type and size of machine to adhere to this rule… whether it fills only a few capsules or over 1000 at a time!
HOW TO IMPORT A MANUAL CAPSULE FILLER INTO CANADA:
THE CORRECT WAY
Whether you’re an individual or a business in Canada purchasing one of our pill presses (or encapsulators, as they refer to them), you should first do the following short, simple steps to ensure there are no problems during importation:
1. FILL & SIGN FORM
- Fill and sign the Canada Designated Devices Registration Form
2. EMAIL FORM
-
Email your signed form to authorizations-autorisations@hc-sc.gc.ca
- The above email link provides you an email that has been completely pre-filled for you to make it quick and easy to file. Just click the email address, attach the filled and signed registration form to the email, and hit send!
3. WAIT
- Wait up to 15 days for your approval and registration number.
4. ORDER
- Once you receive the approval, place your order!
DONE!
That’s the entire process for importing any manual encapsulator or pill press into Canada! To browse our available inventory of capsule-filling machines for shipment to Canada, visit our shop here.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
CAN I IMPORT A CAPSULE FILLER INTO CANADA WITHOUT FILING THE FORM ABOVE?
The law says that when importing into Canada, you are required to register the device with Health Canada via the form above. Aside from legal requirements, that’s not to say people don’t order machines from the USA into Canada without problems all the time… but just note that you’d be doing so at your own risk.*
To reiterate, when ordering a capsule-filling machine from Blated, we take no responsibility for your filing with Health Canada. When we receive an order for a capsule filler from within Canada, we will assume you’ve registered as we’ve explained in the directions above, and we will ship your machine to you via the shipping method you’ve chosen.
*If your machine gets stuck in customs due to not filing, we are not able to refund or reship it. You must instead place another order for the machine.
DOES THIS LAW APPLY TO ME?
If you live in Canada and want to order any type of capsule-filling machine, even if it only fills 10 capsules at a time and is for your personal use, the law requires the form be filed before the shipment reaches Canada border officials.
WHAT IF I WANT TO IMPORT AUTOMATIC CAPSULE-FILLING MACHINES INTO CANADA?
If you’re a business interested in importing automatic machinery, or semi-automatic machinery that can be modified into automated machinery, then that would be what British Columbia refers to as Controlled Equipment. Controlled Equipment has stricter rules and thus requires more registration steps via the Pill Press Registry.
Fortunately, none of our current machinery is considered controlled equipment under Canada law.
So the only thing you’d need to worry about when ordering a Blated capsule filling machine is filing the registration form as outlined in the steps above.
HOW TO REGISTER AND IMPORT CONTROLLED EQUIPMENT INTO CANADA
For all the information on how to register and import automated machinery for making capsules, pills, etc in Canada, head to the official British Columbia Pill Press Information Page.
WHERE CAN I FIND MORE INFORMATION ON THIS PROCESS?
If you'd like more information directly from Health Canada, please download this 4 page Designated Device Registration Guidance PDF Document that was last updated and released on December 17th, 2025.
Sources:
