Regulatory
REGULATORY NEWS FOR THE WEEK OF JANUARY 16, 2023
This is our third feature regarding areas where we see clients can find themselves in trouble, in this case the trouble is economic. Many of our small business clients are faced with the dilemma of dedicating resources to compliance while their competitors have no qualms about making outrageous marketing claims. Its expensive to comply! So how to level the playing field? Most investigations conducted by regulators are the result of a complaint; either a number or consumers have made complaints, or a competitor has made the complaint against your business. If your business is suffering because your competitors are not following the rules – then call them out – contact them and put it in writing. Take it further and report it to the Competition Bureau or directly to Health Canada if the marketing claims pose a hazard to Canadian consumers. Health Canada encourages individuals to send in their complaints about health products to the Regulatory Operations and Enforcement Branch (ROEB). ROEB manages health product complaints on a priority basis according to the risk to people’s health and safety, with those considered high-risk receiving first priority. Types of complaints that can be investigated include labelling errors and known violations of the Food and Drugs Act and associated Regulations. When reporting a complaint, you should provide certain information to help ROEB assess what priority to assign your complaint. This will also help reduce delays in taking the necessary compliance action(s). ROEB verifies complaints from consumers and industry about the quality and safety of health products in Canada. ROEB deals with complaints on a priority basis according to the level of risk to people’s health and safety. High-risk complaints receive first priority. Please note that not all complaints will lead to further action from ROEB. ROEB does not provide ongoing feedback on the status and outcome of compliance actions taken. However, ROEB does post health and safety information on our website. This includes recalls and safety alerts about health products that may have occurred because of a complaint. This is the best mechanism for the public to stay informed of health and safety information from Health Canada. A recall is an expensive proposition which we’ll cover next week. As part of the government’s Grow Ontario Strategy, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) has launched the Food Security and Supply Chain Fund. The purpose of this document is to provide guidance for industry on the requirements for a foreign supplier verification program (FSVP) in 21 CFR part 1, subpart L, that importers of human or animal food must establish and follow to ensure that each food they import into the United States meets applicable U.S. requirements and is not adulterated or (for human food) misbranded with respect to allergen labeling. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the sixth in the ongoing series of webinars exploring food safety culture will take place on January 25, 2023, from 12:00 to 1:00 pm ET. The webinar series Collaborating on Culture in the New Era of Smarter Food Safety is in partnership with Stop Foodborne Illness, a non-profit public health organization. Details will be released shortly on how to register for this important webinar. The Codex Alimentarius Commission develops and adopts food standards that serve as a reference for international food trade. By enhancing transparency, predictability and fair dealing, the Code will help make Canada’s food supply chain more resilient. With businesses working together, the Code of Conduct can be even more effective, which ultimately, will not only benefit the industry, but consumers as well. This notice is to inform Canadians that the Government of Canada intends to consider possible amendments to the New Substances Notification Regulations (Chemicals and Polymers) [NSNR (Chemicals and Polymers) or the Regulations] to promote the reduced reliance on animal testing and the alignment of regulatory requirements with advancements in science. Considering all the information presented in this screening assessment, it is concluded that ETU (Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number 96-45-7) does not meet the criteria under paragraph 64(c) of CEPA as it is not entering the environment in a quantity or concentration or under conditions that constitute or may constitute a danger in Canada to human life or health. Health Canada has completed the re-evaluation of putrescent whole egg solids. Under the authority of the Pest Control Products Act, Health Canada has determined that continued registration of products containing putrescent whole egg solids is acceptable with the label updates (Appendix II of RVD2023-01).
Employers can use the new guide and fillable template to identify where vehicles or mobile equipment operate near workers and eliminate or minimize the risks. A safe and healthy Manitoba needs the active participation and collaboration of all Manitobans. SAFE Work Manitoba is currently conducting a survey through Prairie Research Associates related to safety and health in the workplace. Please share your thoughts by taking the survey today. It closes on Tuesday, January 31, 2023. The intended enforcement discretion period for the harvest and post-harvest agricultural water provisions for covered produce (other than sprouts) in the Produce Safety Rule ends on January 26, 2023 for all businesses other than small and very small businesses. To help prepare growers, the FDA has released a fact sheet with questions and answers on the requirements. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is reminding employers to submit their 2022 OSHA Form 300A (Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses) data by March 2, 2023. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is updating the Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL), a living list of chemicals organized by functional-use class that EPA’s Safer Choice program has evaluated and determined meet Safer Choice criteria. This update is part of an effort to expand and maintain the SCIL. With this update, there are a total of 1,064 chemicals listed on the SCIL. Government chemicals management frameworks aim to enable the safe use of chemicals and ensure their proper management. The approaches used by governments to manage chemical risks are just one aspect of a larger risk management system with industry as a principal actor. They cover a spectrum of activities varying from a government regulatory response that is command-and-control in nature to policy approaches that aim to incentivise a shift in behaviour. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has published a report assessing the regulatory needs for a group of acrylate and methacrylate amines. Safety Share The purpose of this guidance is to summarize ways to identify, remediate, and prevent moisture and mould issues indoors. It provides practical recommendations to address this potential health hazard, including guidance for assessing the magnitude of the problem, a prevention checklist, and considerations when hiring a professional to remediate mould and moisture issues indoors. Have an event you would like to share? Please send details to [email protected]. Are you prepared for emergencies? Join WSPS for a discussion about emergency preparedness and how you can ensure you are ready. The Guelph Organic Conference will be returning in 2023 for a hybrid in-person and online event, now hosted by the Organic Council of Ontario (OCO). Learn more about the RACE process of hazard recognition or identification, risk assessment methodologies, control options, and the importance of evaluating the effectiveness of controls, and learn the value of a coordinated hazard identification and risk assessment system. The European Commission has revised some of the information requirements for registering chemicals under REACH (Action 1, Action 2). This webinar focuses on the new and amended completeness check rules brought by this revision to help you prepare a complete registration dossier. We will also give you an overview of the process in general. Alberta Chemistry and Plastics Day is an annual event designed to build dialogue on common issues, better understand industry and government positions, and get to know new participants from both industry and government. FDA and Health Canada will be co-hosting a regional public meeting to provide information to stakeholders and solicit input prior to the next ICH biannual Assembly meeting scheduled for June 12-13, 2023. No fee to attend. The 2023 Consumer Food Safety Education Conference (CFSEC) will bring answers and clarity to questions like this and more. While the science behind safe food handling and hand hygiene guidance hasn’t changed, the way people are sourcing their food, experiencing their food and receiving information is changing. Take this opportunity to mark in your calendars next years Bakery Showcase, May 14, 15 2023 in Vancouver BC. There is no other health and safety event like this in Canada. Make a plan to join us for this two-day national event that will bring together leaders, change makers, and subject experts representing government, labour, and workplaces, to share their knowledge and experience around current and emerging health and safety issues.Advocacy
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