Food and Food Supplements
The food industry is diverse and dynamic. That also means that competition is stiff. Establishing your brand as a high quality and safe brand that people trust goes a long way in obtaining customer loyalty, increasing revenue and success of your brand. A high – quality safe brand depends on a well planned and executed Food Safety Management System.
The CFIA notes that the upcoming new consolidated regulations will require food businesses that import or prepare food for export or to be sent across provincial or territorial borders to have licences, as well as preventive controls including traceability plans that outline steps to address potential risks to food safety.
If you have such a business GNHP Consulting offers customized quality programs to meet both your quality and regulatory objectives.
Temporary Market Authorization Letter (TMAL)
In Canada the regulations governing the sale of products at the food-NHP interface are a bit unclear. Foods may be classified as compliant or non-compliant. If they are compliant, only a compliant label in both English and French is required. For products that fall into the non-compliant category, a pre-market approval before market will be required. That approval is called a Temporary Market Authorization Letter (TMA).
Examples of non-compilant food are:
- Foods fortified with vitamins/minerals/amino acids.
- Foods fortified with energy ingredients e.g caffeine, taurine, glucoronolactone.
- Foods considered novel or containing novel ingredients.
We can help you determine whether your product is a food or a food supplement that requires an pre-market approval and then help you with the TMA application as well. Since it is not clear sometimes where your product belong, we can review your product and help you to figure out where it belongs. Here is a pointer, if it is your plan to make a health claim/benefit with recommended use or purpose, then your product will be regarded as an NHP. See NHP Regulations.
Consumer Packaging and Labeling Act
In Canada, there are laws governing consumer packaging and labelling of products such as pre-packaged foods and other foods. At the core of the act, all information on a food label must be accurate, truthful and not misleading and must include minimum core labeling requirements in both English and French:
- The common name of the food.
- A net quantity declaration.
- The identity and principal place of business & country of origin.
- Dates to include a “best before”, “packaged on” or “expiration” date.
- Storage instructions.
- A list of ingredients & allergen labelling.
- A Nutrition Facts table when required.
With all the changes that are coming up, many companies are gearing up to comply with the changes and avoid incurring losses in revenue due to unforeseen delays. We can help with Nutritional Analysis & Food labeling Compliance Pre-market. We are here to help you stay compliant.