External advisory bodies for Health Canada

In fulfilling its mandate to help Canadians maintain and improve their health, Health Canada seeks information and advice from other people, groups, agencies and governments. This includes seeking advice from experts using external advisory bodies. These bodies are composed of people who are outside of the federal government, chosen for their knowledge, expertise and experience.

The Health Canada Policy on External Advisory Bodies (2022) provides direction to those managing external advisory bodies and how to use their advice. The policy also provides stakeholders and members of the public with accessible information on what to expect when Health Canada seeks advice from an external advisory body.

Active external advisory bodies

• Review of the Federal Approach to Pandemic Science Advice and Research Coordination
• Expert panel: Cannabis Act legislative review
• Appropriate Use Advisory Committee
• Expert Advisory Group on Safer Supply
• Science Advisory Committee on Pest Control Products
• Chemicals Management Plan Science Committee (CMP)
• Ministerial Advisory Council on Mental Health (MACMH)
• Paediatric Expert Advisory Committee (PEAC)
• Nutrition Science Advisory Committee (NSAC)
• Pest Management Advisory Council (PMAC)
• Science Advisory Committee on Health Products Containing Cannabis
• Scientific Advisory Board on Vaping Products (SAB-VP)
• Scientific Advisory Committee on Digital Health Technology (SAC-DHT)
• Scientific Advisory Committee Medical Devices Used in the Cardiovascular System (SAC-MDUCS)
• Scientific Advisory Committee on Health Products for Women (SAC-HPW)
• Scientific Advisory Committee on Oncology Therapies (SAC-OT)
• Scientific Advisory Committee on Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacology (SAC-PSCP)
• Scientific Advisory Committee on Respiratory and Allergy Therapies (SAC-RAT)
• Youth Leadership Team (Tobacco control and vaping)

Inactive or disbanded external advisory bodies

• Industry Advisory Roundtable on COVID-19 Testing, Screening, Tracing and Data Management
• Testing and Screening Expert Advisory Panel
• Advisory Committee on Animal Uses of Antimicrobials and Impact on Resistance and Human Health
• Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare
• Advisory Council on Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Canadian Pain Task Force (CPTF)
• Economic Management Advisory Committee (EMAC)
• Expert Advisory Committee on Veterinary Natural Health Products (EAC-VNHP)
• Expert Advisory Group on Marketing of Opioids
• Expert Panel on Immune Globulin Product Supply and Related Impacts in Canada
• Expert Panel on MAID and Mental Illness
• Expert Task Force on Substance Use
• External Advisory Panel on Selective COX-2 Inhibitor NSAIDS (EAP-COX-2)
• External Review of the Federally Funded Pan-Canadian Health Organizations (PCHOs) - Implementation Phase
• External Working Group on the Registration and Disclosure of Clinical Trial Information (EWG-CT)
• Food Expert Advisory Committee (FEAC)
• Natural Health Products Program Advisory Committee
• Scientific Advisory Committee on Anti-Infective Therapies (SAC-AIT)
• Scientific Advisory Committee on Bioavailability and Bioequivalence (SAC-BB)
• Scientific Advisory Committee on Cardiovascular Therapies (SAC-CT)
• Scientific Advisory Committee on HIV Therapies (SAC-HIVT)
• Scientific Advisory Committee on Human Reproductive Therapies (SAC-HRT)
• Scientific Advisory Committee on Musculoskeletal Therapies (SAC-MST)
• Scientific Advisory Committee on Neurological Therapies (SAC-NT)
• Scientific Advisory Panel on Bioequivalence Requirements for Gender-Specific Drug Products (SAP-GSDP)
• Scientific Advisory Panel on Bioequivalence Requirements for Modified-Release Dosage Forms (SAP-MRDF)
• Scientific Advisory Panel on Diclectin (SAP-Diclectin)
• Scientific Advisory Panel on Hepatoxicity (SAP-H)
• Scientific Advisory Panel on Isotretinoin (SAP-I)
• Scientific Advisory Panel on Isotretinoin Risk Management (SAP-IRM)
• Scientific Advisory Panel on Neuropathic Pain (SAP-NP)
• Scientific Advisory Panel on Nonprescription Paediatric Cough & Cold Medications (SAP-NPCCM)
• Scientific Advisory Panel on Opioid Analgesic Abuse (SAP-OAA)
• Scientific Advisory Panel on Opioid Use and Contraindications (SAP-OUC)
• Scientific Advisory Panel on Opioids (SAP-Opioids)
• Scientific Advisory Panel on Software as a Medical Device (SAP-SaMD)
• Scientific Advisory Panel on Schedule of the Food and Drugs Act (SAP-Sch-A)
• Scientific Advisory Panel on Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors and Serotonin/Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SAP-SSRI/SNRI)
• Scientific Advisory Panel on the Bioequivalence Requirements for Fentanyl Transdermal Delivery Systems (SAP-FTDS)
• Special Access Programme: Expert Advisory Panel
• Stakeholder Reference Group on Implementation of Public Release of Clinical Information
• Task Force on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation