CAN/1084/Rev.1
WTO/SPS
CA Canada
  • 55 - Emballage et distribution des marchandises
  • 67 - Technologie alimentaire
2019-09-04
2019-07-01

Food intended for human consumption (ICS Codes: 67.020; 55.200)

Food Labelling Modernization. Language(s): English and French. Number of pages: 67

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is launching a public consultation on proposed regulations on the labelling of pre-packaged food destined for sale in Canada. Known as "Food Labelling Modernization", the regulatory proposal is aimed at developing a more modern food labelling system to better protect consumers from deception and improve the consumers' ability to make informed purchasing decisions. Briefly, the Food Labelling Modernization regulatory proposal would:

1)    Enhance the food label to better protect and inform consumers with clear and accurate information to make purchasing decisions, including:

What the food contains (e.g., amendments to provide percentage of ingredient declaration for characterizing ingredients that are emphasized [i.e. emphasized ingredients]), How long the quality of the food will last (i.e., best before date);

2)    Streamline the regulatory framework by harmonizing food commodity labelling based regulations to create consistency across foods, by removing duplication and inconsistencies, and by repealing certain commodity specific labelling requirements. This is consistent with the approach that was taken with the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations;

3)    Introduce a more adaptable and responsive framework through the use of incorporation by reference where appropriate (e.g., container sizes, class names). This would support innovation. This consultation has been notified under the TBT Agreement (G/TBT/N/CAN/506/Rev.1) and SPS Agreement (G/SPS/N/CAN/1084/Rev.1).