Proposed Amendments to the Food Allergen Labelling Regulations in Canada

Health Canada published its Proposed Amendments to the Food Allergen Labelling Regulations in Canada Gazette, Part I (CGI) on July 26, 2008 to allow for public comment. Health Canada will take into consideration any comments received during the 90-day comment period before bringing the final regulations forward and publishing them in the Canada Gazette, Part II.   At the same time, Health Canada also issued updated guidance to industry, urging food manufacturers to enhance labelling of priority allergens, gluten sources and added sulphites in prepackaged foods.

You can find out more information here.

European Food Law Association Meeting

The 17th International Scientific European Food Law Association (EFLA) Congress, “The Legal Frame of Food Information,” will be held in Bologna, Italy 18 - 19 September, 2008.

INFORMATION and REGISTRATION:

EFLA Secretariat General
c/o Coutrelis & Associés
235 rue de la Loi - 1040 Brussels
Tel : 32 / 2.230.48.45
Fax : 32 / 2.230.82.06
efla-aeda@hotmail.com
http://www.efla-aeda.org

UK Food Standards Agency revised guidance for the use of the terms Fresh, Pure, Natural etc.

The UK’s Food Standards Agency has revised its advice on the use of labeling terms such as “fresh,” “pure,” and “natural.”

The revised guidance includes advice on the use of new terms, including include: farmhouse pâté, handmade, quality, selected, premium, finest and best. It also has new advice for some of the terms that were in the previous guidance – and advises against the use of some terms that can cause confusion.

For more information, click here.

Saudi Arabia drafts new food safety law

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has drafted a new food safety law.  If passed by the Cabinet, the law will help ensure that all imported and indigenous foodstuff conforms with local specifications and as well as international standards.  (From the Saudi Gazette).

"Product of Canada" Labeling Requirements

Effective after December 31, 2008, "Product of Canada" Food Labeling Guidelines come into effect.  In brief, “Product of Canada” will require both the contents and processing be Canadian.  For foods that are processed in Canada, but contain imported ingredients, qualified “Made in Canada” labels will be available, such as "Made in Canada from imported ingredients."

The July 15, 2008 Government of Canada News Release is posted at http://www.healthycanadians.ca/media/2008-06-15_e.html.

A Government of Canada Backgrounder entitled "Product of Canada and Made in Canada voluntary claims on food labels and in advertising" is posted at http://www.healthycanadians.ca/media/2008-06-15bk_e.html.

EFSA on acrylamide

The European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) released information from a EFSA's 11th Scientific Colloquium, Acrylamide Carcinogenicity, held on 22-23 May 2008. “Acrylamide is a contaminant that can be formed during the preparation of food at high temperatures, particularly in starchy foods such as crisps, French fries and bread.  The colloquium was organised to stimulate an open exchange of views and expertise on new information on acrylamide that has become available since the Joint FAO/WHO expert committee on food additives (JECFA) carried out a risk assessment of acrylamide in 2005, classifying acrylamide as a potentially harmful substance in food.”   For more, see http://www.efsa.europa.eu/EFSA/efsa_locale-1178620753812_1178694670469.htm.