Anyone can download every DCS document for free. What members pay for is a seat at the table: ballot rights on the standards, the technical helpline, member rates on every course and audit, and the obligation to be assessed against what they helped write.
Annual, in Canadian dollars, invoiced on the anniversary of joining. Not-for-profit health authorities and organizations under ten staff pay the Associate rate regardless of size.
$495 / year
For organizations under 25 staff, single-site operators, consultants and independent pharmacies. 191 members.
$2,750 / year
For distributors, processors, carriers and health authorities with 25 or more staff. 249 members.
$8,900 / year
For multi-site networks, national distributors and organizations with supplier programs of their own. 46 members.
| Entitlement | Associate $495 | Operating $2,750 | Network Partner $8,900 |
|---|---|---|---|
| All standards and bulletins | Included | Included | Included |
| Technical helpline | 6 queries / year | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Comment on drafts | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ballot on final standards | — | Yes | Yes |
| Vote and stand at the AGM | — | Yes | Yes |
| Course and audit rates | Member rate | Member rate | Member rate |
| Assembly places included | None | Two | Six |
| Annual programme review | — | Half day | Half day per site |
| Corridor dataset | On release | On release | Six weeks early |
| Public register listing | Optional | Yes | Yes |
Dues are reviewed by the board every second year and were last increased in January 2025, by 4%. Any increase above the Bank of Canada CPI figure requires a member vote.
486 organizations as of 1 August 2026. Roughly a third joined after an excursion they could not explain, which is a poor reason to join and a very common one.
Member names are listed in the public register with each organization’s permission. Associate members may stay unlisted.
Suppliers of monitoring hardware, packaging, refrigeration equipment and cold chain software are not eligible for membership, and cannot sit on a technical committee or vote on a standard. They may attend the Assembly, sponsor a table and submit comments on drafts like anyone else.
This rule costs us roughly $180,000 a year in dues we decline. It is the reason an audit report from us means something.
Applications are reviewed weekly. Expect a short call to confirm eligibility and tier, then an invoice. Membership starts when the invoice is paid, and dues are prorated monthly in the first year. Start an application.