Archived - Notice to industry - Regulatory amendments related to nutrition labelling, list of ingredient and food colours
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Important update
While the compliance deadline for the regulatory amendments will remain December 14, 2021, flexibility will be provided to support the food industry. For the first year following the transition period (until December 14, 2022), the CFIA will focus its efforts on education and compliance promotion. After December 14, 2022, the CFIA will verify compliance and apply enforcement discretion in cases of non-compliance where manufacturers or importers have a detailed plan that shows how they intend to be compliant at the earliest possible time, and no later than December 14, 2023. See the notice to industry for more information.
Ottawa, May 11, 2018: On December 14, 2016, Health Canada introduced changes to the Food and Drug Regulations regarding nutrition and ingredient labelling and food colour requirements. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is responsible for enforcing the new requirements.
These changes aim to make nutrition information on food labels more useful to Canadians and allow them to make well informed food choices.
Beginning December 14, 2016, industry has 5 years to adopt the new requirements. Amendments dealing with food colour specifications and the removal of synthetic colour certification requirements came into effect immediately at that time.
Industry may follow the former requirements or the new requirements during the 5 year transition period. After the transition period, which ends on December 14, 2021, the new requirements must be applied.
The 5 year transition period gives industry time to adopt the new requirements and takes into account other regulatory changes that are anticipated over the 5 year period as part of the CFIA's Food Labelling Modernization Initiative and Health Canada's Healthy Eating Strategy.
More information on the transition period can be found in the CFIA and Health Canada multi-year implementation plan.
For all food labelling questions, including those related to the new requirements, the primary resource is the Industry Labelling Tool. Any additional questions may be directed to a CFIA local office. CFIA has also prepared frequently asked questions related to compliance and enforcement.
Additional link
Contacts
Media Relations
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
613-773-6600
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