Consultation: Proposed compositional requirements for infant foods and foods currently regulated as foods for special dietary use

Current status: Closed

Opened on October 23, 2024 and closed to new input on January 22, 2025.

Health Canada was seeking comments on its proposal for compositional requirements for infant foods and foods currently regulated as foods for special dietary use. These foods are regulated under Divisions 24 and 25 of the Food and Drug Regulations.

Who was the focus of this consultation

We were seeking input from all interested stakeholders, including:

• health professionals and associated organizations
• industry stakeholders and associated organizations
• non-governmental organizations
• academics and researchers
• all levels of government
• consumers, including:
  • patients
  • parents and caregivers

Key questions for discussion

We were seeking your input on the proposed compositional requirements for:

• infant formula
• medical foods for ages one or more
• medical foods represented as a total diet replacement for weight reduction
• conventional infant foods
  • for example, infant cereals and fruit purees
• gluten-free foods
• formulated nutritional foods (currently regulated as meal replacements and nutritional supplements)

The input gathered through this process will help inform the development of draft regulations which are anticipated to be published in the Canada Gazette, Part I for comment, in spring 2026.

Contact us

Bureau of Nutritional Sciences, Food and Nutrition Directorate
Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada
251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway
Mail stop 2203E
Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9
Email: bns-bsn@hc-sc.gc.ca