Health Canada's Technical Consultation on Proposed Changes to the Format Requirements for the Display of Nutrition and Other Information on Food Labels

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Background

Health Canada is undertaking a broad review of the nutrition labelling regulations. This review has led to proposed revisions to the format requirements of the Nutrition Facts table and the list of ingredients and to a proposed enhancement of information on bioactive components added to foods.

The purpose of this consultation document is to outline the rationale for Health Canada's proposed changes to the format requirements for the display of nutrition and other information on food labels and to solicit feedback on the proposed changes from interested stakeholders and consumers.

Consultation Document

How to get Involved

This consultation is open for comment starting July 14, 2014 until September 12, 2014 (60 calendar day period). Comments on Health Canada's Proposed Changes to the Format Requirements for the Display of Nutrition and Other Information on Food Labels, may be submitted in writing by regular mail or electronically at the address indicated below. If you are submitting your comments electronically, please use the title "Proposed Format changes" in the subject box of your email.

Food Directorate, Bureau of Nutritional Sciences
251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway
Tunney's Pasture
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0K9

Email: nut.labelling-etiquetage@hc-sc.gc.ca
Fax: 613-941-6636

Submissions must be received by 11:59 p.m. EST on September 12, 2014.

Consulting with Canadians

On January 28, 2014, the Minister of Health announced that Health Canada was beginning a process to consult Canadian parents and consumers on ways to improve nutritional information on food labels, in response to a commitment identified in the  2013 Speech from the Throne. The initial phase of this consultative process included a series of roundtable discussions with parents in January, February and March 2014. Canadians were also invited to share their views through an online consultation open between January and April 2014. A What We Heard report was published that provides an overview of the feedback received during this phase of the consultation.

Health Canada is now entering the second phase of consultations which focuses on various technical aspects of the Nutrition Facts table, including this technical consultation on proposed changes to the format requirements. Additional proposed changes to the Nutrition Facts table, such as changes to the serving size declaration, reference amounts, Daily Values and core nutrients are being consulted on as part of this phase. Input from these consultations and earlier feedback from Canadian parents and consumers will be used in conjunction with other data sources in the development of proposed amendments to the nutrition and food labelling regulations.

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