CAN/575
WTO/TBT
CA Canada
  • 67 - Food technology
  • 22 - Beverages, spirits and vinegar
2019-03-15
2019-01-17

Alcoholic beverages (HS Code: 220860; ICS Codes: 67.160.10)

Notice of Intent to amend the Food and Drug Regulations to update the vodka standard (available in English and in French)

The federal vodka standard under the Food and Drug Regulations (FDR) regulates what inter-provincially traded or imported products can be labelled as vodka. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency intends to implement amendments to modernize the vodka compositional standard and is seeking feedback on the proposed changes to the Food and Drug Regulations.

The proposed amendments will modernize the standard of identity for vodka to enable industry to take full advantage of innovation and market developments, removing barriers to trade, and enable businesses to be more competitive and grow.

The proposed amendments include:

·         Requiring vodka to be a potable alcoholic distillate produced from any material of agricultural origin.

·         Allowing flexibility in cases where vodka is produced from agricultural material other than potato or cereal grain to have some distinctive character, aroma or taste. 

Additional labelling and advertising requirements for vodka produced from agricultural material other than potato or cereal grain and requirements to include the common name reflecting the agricultural material when there are distinctive character, aroma or taste remaining (e.g. vodka produced from apples would be labelled and advertised as "Apple Vodka").