Guidance document for Supplemented foods regulations: executive summary

Background

Supplemented foods are prepackaged foods with added vitamins, minerals, amino acids and/or other ingredients such as caffeine. These foods must meet certain requirements in order to be eligible for sale in Canada. The Supplemented foods regulations and the documents incorporated by reference into the Food and Drug Regulations outline the requirements for supplemented foods including compositional and labelling requirements.

The guidance document for Supplemented foods regulations is available upon request to assist food manufacturers and distributors in the interpretation of the Supplemented foods regulations. The document provides information on how to comply with the regulations and elaborates on:

• Supplemented foods that have a transition period to comply with the regulations
• Foods that are not permitted to be supplemented
• Descriptions of food categories that are permitted to be supplemented
• Understanding the requirements related to using supplemental ingredients
• Labelling requirements for supplemented foods including how to declare ingredients on the label
• Understanding various types of requirements related to making claims on supplemented foods
• Path to market for products that do not meet the requirements for permitted food categories or supplemental ingredients
• How Health Canada developed the requirements for supplemental ingredients
• Understanding whether your product falls under the Supplemented foods regulations

How to request the guidance document

To obtain an electronic copy of the guidance document or for questions related to the guidance document, please send an e-mail to supplementedfoods-alimentssupplementes@hc-sc.gc.ca with the subject line  Guidance document on supplemented foods regulations.

Related information

• Supplemented foods: Regulations and compliance
• About supplemented foods and their labels