Health Canada has suspended the licence of a Grifols plasma collection site in Winnipeg after finding that the company had not effectively implemented some corrective measures and failed to demonstrate an effective quality management system at the facility.
In a Sept. 23 statement to The Epoch Times, Health Canada said it had notified Grifols that it was suspending all collection activities at the Taylor Avenue site immediately.
“Health Canada issued the suspension because Grifols had not effectively implemented some corrective and preventive actions and, overall, it failed to demonstrate that the Taylor Avenue site has implemented an effective quality management system,” a spokesperson said.
Two plasma donors at Grifols clinics in Winnipeg died following plasma donations, the company confirmed in a statement to media in March. One was a donor at the Taylor Avenue location, while a second person died following a donation at the Innovation Drive location in January 2026.
Health Canada had previously said its investigation found no link between the donation process and the two deaths.
The department conducted an initial compliance verification inspection at the facility on Nov. 20, 2025. After asking Grifols to address deficiencies identified during that inspection, Health Canada said it conducted an unannounced inspection on June 23, 2026.
On July 13, Health Canada told Grifols’ head office that several conditions the department had established had not been met. The department warned that failing to address the deficiencies could result in further compliance and enforcement action, including suspension of some operations.
Health Canada said it issued a non-compliant rating for the site on Aug. 12 and proposed suspending its operations the following day, allowing Grifols to respond before the suspension was imposed.
Grifols’ suspension is in addition to terms and conditions Health Canada placed on its licence for all 16 of its Canadian plasma collection sites on March 30. Those conditions will remain in place until Grifols demonstrates compliance with the department’s requirements.
Company Responds
Grifols told The Epoch Times that it voluntarily paused plasma collection at all of its Canadian collection centres effective Aug. 14, and that pause remains in effect. The company said it notified Health Canada of the voluntary pause on Aug. 12, with the suspension taking effect Aug. 14.
The company said it has already implemented corrective and preventive measures and will continue working with Health Canada to demonstrate their effectiveness and support compliance at the Taylor Avenue location and across its other centres.
The company also provided additional context about the Taylor Avenue site, saying that while Grifols was the majority shareholder of Canada Plasma Inc., the existing governance structure limited its ability to direct the company’s operations.
After Grifols assumed effective control and Health Canada identified deficiencies at several donation centres, the company said it accelerated its acquisition of the remaining ownership interest to fully manage the business, strengthen operational oversight, and ensure the same quality, safety, and compliance standards used across its global network of donation centres.
Since then, Grifols said it has conducted an “exhaustive review” of its centres’ operations, including retraining staff and strengthening procedures and quality systems.
“Importantly, at no point has the safety of donors, patients or the quality and safety of plasma collected at the Taylor Avenue centre, or any of our other Canadian centers been compromised,” Grifols said.
Health Canada said it will continue working with Grifols as the company seeks to resume activities and implement corrective action plans.
“Prior to resuming operations, Health Canada will verify Grifols’ compliance with our regulatory requirements and we will not hesitate to take further action if needed,” the spokesperson said.
Health Canada said the plasma collected by Grifols is used to manufacture plasma-derived therapies that are administered to patients, rather than being used directly for transfusion.
The department said multiple screening and testing safeguards are in place throughout the collection and manufacturing processes to protect patients.
Health Canada also said Canadians can continue to have confidence in the safety of blood and plasma products authorized for use in Canada because of the standards established under the federal Food and Drugs Act and Blood Regulations.
The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
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