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Pill press reporting and recording guidelines

Last updated on September 16, 2021

These guidelines are for Registered Sellers* wanting to improve their understanding of the requirements pertaining to the recording and reporting of any sale** of Controlled Equipment under the Pill Press and Related Equipment Control Act.

Before selling Controlled Equipment

Before a sale, a Registered Seller must confirm the intended purchaser’s authority to own Controlled Equipment.

Who may sell Controlled Equipment?

A Registered Seller who holds a valid Registration under the Pill Press and Related Equipment Control Act, and is acting in accordance with the limits and conditions, if any, of their Registration may sell Controlled Equipment.

A person is not authorized to sell Controlled Equipment who does not have a Registered Seller Registration under the Pill Press and Related Equipment Control Act

To whom may a Registered Seller sell Controlled Equipment?

A Registered Seller may sell Controlled Equipment to authorized owner categories under the Pill Press and Related Equipment Control Act (i.e. Authorized Owners, Waiver holders and other Registered Sellers).

A Registered Seller must not sell Controlled Equipment to any person in British Columbia other than to an Owner Category under the Pill Press and Related Equipment Control Act. This is to ensure that the purchaser is permitted to own, use, or possess Controlled Equipment.

Section 4(2) of the Pill Press and Related Equipment Control Act prohibits a Registered Seller from selling Controlled Equipment to any “person in British Columbia” other than to an Owner Category under the Act. Different factors may apply in assessing whether an intended purchaser is a “person in British Columbia”, including without limitation:

  • The intended purchaser’s jurisdiction of incorporation or registration
  • Extra-provincial registration(s), if any
  • Location of business operations
  • Location of warehouse(s)
  • Place(s) of business
  • Office(s) (including registered office and records office), if any.

If in doubt, a Registered Seller may wish to consult with their legal advisor.

If the intended purchaser is a “person in British Columbia”, the Registered Seller must confirm that they are either an Authorized Owner, Waiver holder, or Registered Seller under the Pill Press and Related Equipment Control Act.

For each sale of Controlled Equipment

For each sale of Controlled Equipment, a Registered Seller must:

Note. Business refers to any form of business including sole proprietorship

Note. Individual refers to an individual making a purchase in their personal capacity.

The Pill Press Online Registry uses a Business BCeID to authenticate businesses before they register their inventory of Controlled Equipment. Thus, authorized owner categories under the Pill Press and Related Equipment Control Act (Authorized Owners, Waiver holders and other Registered Sellers) must be a business. Under the current legislative scheme, a possible scenario where a sale could be made to an individual is if the individual resides outside of BC.

  • Collect details of the sale, including: the date on which the sale was made; description of the Controlled Equipment sold (including make, model, serial number and/or Equipment Registry Number); the Seller’s registration number; method of payment used; and whether the Controlled Equipment will be stored in a dwelling house
  • Collect from the intended purchaser enough information to confirm they belong to an Owner Category under the Act (i.e. drug establishment or site licence, waiver number, registration number)
  • Collect from the intended purchaser prescribed information respecting the purchaser's identity (whether business or individual) as follows:
    • Business (including sole proprietorship)
      • Business Legal name
        Note. If the intended purchaser holds a site or drug establishment licence, the name as shown on licence and expiry date
      • Business registration number
      • Name and the civic address at which the purchaser ordinarily carries on business
      • Legal name, business telephone number, and email address of the person responsible for making the purchase on behalf of the purchaser
      • If known, civic address where the purchaser will ordinarily store the equipment
    • Individual (purchasing in their person capacity)
      • Purchaser's legal name, civic address, telephone number, and email address
      • Government-issued Photo ID that shows the purchaser's photograph and legal name, and is not expired
      • Government-issued identification Type (e.g. driver’s licence)
      • if known, civic address where the purchaser will ordinarily store the equipment
  • Provide a copy of the completed Record of Sale form to the purchaser, as this will provide essential information for BC purchasers to complete their own Equipment Notification in respect of the acquisition of Controlled Equipment. Purchasers from outside of BC are not required to provide Equipment Notification.

After selling Controlled Equipment

  • Both the Registered Seller and purchaser must notify the Registrar of the sale within 10 days.
    • The Registered Seller reports the sale by logging on to the Client Dashboard, locating the piece of equipment on their inventory, clicking on the “reporting sale” button, and following the instructions. The equipment will be removed from the seller’s inventory once processed.
    • The BC purchaser reports the purchase of the piece of equipment by logging on to the Client Dashboard, clicking on “equipment notification”, and following the instructions.
  • Both the Registered Seller and purchaser are required to keep a copy of the Record of Sale form for a minimum period of two years.

For more information see Recording and Reporting of Sales policies.

* A Registered Seller is called “Authorized Seller” under the Act; however, the term “Registered Seller” has been chosen for ease of reference and operational purposes.

** Under the Act, “sell” includes offer for sale, expose for sale, have in possession for sell, distribute, give, transfer, lend, send, rent, or otherwise dispose of, whether or not for consideration (i.e. money) or whether by wholesale, retail, or private sale. If a business acts as a broker or supplier of alternative ownership arrangements (i.e. renting, leasing, lending) for Controlled Equipment, these are considered controlled activities under the Pill Press and Related Equipment Control Act.