Regulations on front-of-package nutrition labelling
As part of Health Canada’s Healthy Eating Strategy, amendments to the Food and Drug Regulations (FDR) (Nutrition Symbols, Other Labelling Provisions, Vitamin D and Hydrogenated Fats or Oils) were published in the Canada Gazette, Part II on July 20, 2022.
Nutrition symbols
Front-of-package nutrition labelling
Health Canada requires a new front-of-package nutrition symbol on prepackaged foods high in saturated fats, sugars, and/or sodium. The symbol will make it quicker and easier for people living in Canada to make healthier and more informed food choices. Front-of-package nutrition labelling will complement existing labelling policies and other initiatives, such as the Nutrition Facts table and Canada’s Food Guide. While the regulations came into force today, a transition period will give manufacturers until January 1, 2026, to change their labels and comply with the new requirements.
Learn more about front-of-package nutrition labelling.
Health Canada has developed guidance for industry on the front-of-package nutrition labelling requirements. The guide provides the Government of Canada’s interpretation of the new regulations related to the front-of-package nutrition symbol labelling.
Other labelling provisions
Nutrient content claims
Health Canada amended the Food and Drug Regulations (FDR) to incorporate by reference the Table of Permitted Nutrient Content Statements and Claims. This will allow administrative updates to be made in response to new scientific evidence.
Amendments will ensure consistency with the new front-of-package nutrition labelling regulations and the Regulations Amending the Food and Drug Regulations (Nutrition Labelling, Other Labelling Provisions and Food Colours), which were published on December 14, 2016.
Learn more about the new Table of Permitted Nutrient Content Statements and Claims.
High-intensity sweetener labelling
Health Canada made changes to how high-intensity sweeteners (acesulfame-potassium, aspartame, neotame and sucralose) are labelled. These changes will bring consistency to the labelling of all sweeteners in Canada.
Vitamin D and Hydrogenated fats or oils
Addition of vitamin D to foods
Health Canada doubled the amount of vitamin D required in cow’s milk and margarine and the amount permitted in goat’s milk. The increase will help bring Canadians’ intakes closer to recommended intakes for vitamin D.
Definitions and references to hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils
Health Canada amended the FDR to remove references to partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) and replace references to hydrogenated oils with fully hydrogenated oils. These changes ensure coherence with the prohibition on the use of PHOs in foods, which came into effect in September 2018. The definition of PHOs has been added to the List of Contaminants and Other Adulterating Substances in Foods.
Coming into force and transitional provisions
These regulations came into force upon publication in the Canada Gazette, Part II. Learn more about these regulations and transitional provisions in the Summary of amendments published in the Canada Gazette, Part II: Nutrition symbols, other labelling provisions, vitamin D and hydrogenated fats or oils for further details.
Enquiries
Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) share the responsibility for answering enquiries on the new regulations. Questions on the new requirements and their intent can be submitted to Health Canada. For questions dealing with compliance and enforcement activities, please refer to the implementation plan on the CFIA website. |
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