Drug Identification Number
Any product defined as a drug under the Canadian Food and Drugs Act must have an associated Drug Identification Number (or DIN). A DIN also pertains to veterinary drugs permitted for sale in Canada.[1]
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.
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. A drug product can be looked up via its DIN with the Health Canada's Drug Product Database (DPD) to find specific information of drugs approved by the Ministry.[2]
References
- "Vaccine and Drug Use Policy". Canadian Pork Council. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
- Michael Gabay (10 March 2015). The Clinical Practice of Drug Information. Jones & Bartlett Publishers. pp. 53–. ISBN 978-1-284-02623-8.