Regulatory
REGULATORY NEWS FOR THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 2, 2023
Agriculture Week was first established in the province to recognize and celebrate Ontario farmers through the Ontario Agriculture Week Act, 1998, and is celebrated beginning on the Monday before Thanksgiving Day. The supplemented foods regulations, which came into force on July 21, 2022, require supplemented foods that have associated cautionary statements to carry a supplemented food caution identifier (SFCI). Some supplemented foods may be required to carry both symbols on their principal display panel (FOP). In addition, prepackaged products that contain an assortment of foods may be required to carry more than one FOP nutrition symbol and/or the SFCI. Background – Health Canada published FOPs for food and then published a requirement for supplemented foods to have a supplemented foods FOP if certain ingredients were above thresholds – and then they realized oops!!! there isn’t enough room on some packages to carry both symbols (a high sugar beverage with caffeine will have to carry both – unless it is a high sugar beverage with caffeine that is carbonated. Health Canada hasn’t developed policy to manage large carbonated beverage brand-owners. The simplest option is to allow the two symbols together! Send in your comments. The September issue of the Health Product InfoWatch published by Health Canada is now available. This monthly publication provides clinically relevant safety information on pharmaceuticals, biologics, medical devices and natural health products. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is leading a 60-day public consultation to seek comments on the proposed guidance document: How to determine when a plant-derived ingredient requires a feed pre-market assessment. This guidance is intended to provide clarity regarding plant-derived ingredients that require a pre-market assessment under the Feeds Regulations. The guidance also aims to elaborate on and describe the characteristics of a plant that could result in a novel feed ingredient. Health Canada’s Food Directorate completed the premarket safety assessments of two food additive submissions seeking authorization for the use of two types of pectinase, pectinesterase from Aspergillus oryzae AR-962 and polygalacturonase from Aspergillus oryzae AR-183, in fruit and vegetable processing and wine production effective September 28, 2023. The newsletter features the publication of 6 new Hazardous Substance Assessments, a summary of the recent GHS Sub-committee of Experts 44th session, document retention requirements and a call for speakers and topics for the Spring 2024 Multi-Stakeholder Workshop. Healht Canada has launched a consultation on Annex 2 to the Good manufacturing practices guide – Manufacture of biologics (GUI-0027). Government of Canada announces the launch of the Canadian Product Safety Pledge alongside Amazon Canada and eBay Canada. The strategy articulates the role of carbon management in Canada’s path to a prosperous net-zero economy and the federal actions that are being taken to support the development and deployment of world-class carbon management technologies in Canada. On September 30th, 2023, proposed Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Made by the Department of Environment, which include proposed amendments to the Cross-Border Movement of Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Recyclable Material Regulations, were published in Canada Gazette, Part I Regulations Amending Certain Department of the Environment Regulations. This publication initiates a 60-day public consultation period during which stakeholders and interested parties are invited to submit comments to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) on the proposed Regulations. Canada’s Chemicals Management Plan (CMP) program is sharing the following Risk Assessment Publications Plan to inform stakeholders of publications from October to December 2023. The targeted publication dates are subject to change. Please note that the publications below were listed in previous quarterly publication plans, but were delayed as a result of CEPA amendment considerations. The program anticipates sharing the Risk Assessment Publications Plan for January-March 2024 by winter 2023. Environment and Climate Change Canada and Health Canada recognize the importance of stakeholder engagement. If you anticipate any challenges with providing comments within 60-day public comment periods, if applicable, please inform the program at the earliest opportunity. aAssessment presenting information on health and ecological considerations and, if criteria under s. 64 are met, a Risk Management Scope or Risk Management Approach document. Note: Group names are not final and may change For any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Substances Management Information Line: [email protected] The Health Canada Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) is responsible for pesticide regulation in Canada. The public registry is where you can learn more about all pest control products registered for use in Canada.
The provincial government has made amendments to the Workers Compensation Act that affect return to work. Temporary help agencies and recruiters will soon need licenses to operate in Ontario. Find out what that means for employers who use their services. Your experiences with WorkSafeNB are incredibly important to us, and we need your input to help us shape our future services and communication channels. We’re eager to hear your thoughts on opportunities and areas of improvement as we continue to work to meet your needs. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability of two additional draft chapters of a multichapter draft guidance for industry entitled “Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food.” This multichapter draft guidance, when finalized, will explain FDA’s current thinking on how to comply with the requirements for hazard analysis and risk-based preventive controls under FDA’s regulation entitled “Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food.” The newly available draft chapters are entitled “Chapter 11 Food Allergen Program” and “Chapter 16 Acidified Foods.” This draft guidance is not final nor is it in effect at this time. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability of two guidance documents that will help sprout operations subject to FDA’s final rule entitled “Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption” (the Produce Safety Rule) understand the topics covered in the Produce Safety Rule pertaining to personnel qualifications, training, and hygienic practices; equipment, tools, and buildings; and sampling and testing of spent sprout irrigation water (or in-process sprouts). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has updated its Food Traceability FAQ to provide additional information about the FDA’s Product Tracing System and explain how the agency intends to conduct initial inspections beginning in 2027. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the Agency. This notice solicits comments on the proposed extension of the collection of information applicable to required adverse experience reporting for licensed biological products, and general records associated with the manufacture and distribution of biological products. Comments must be received by November 27, 2023. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is adding 10 chemicals to the Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL). The SCIL is a living list of chemicals that EPA’s Safer Choice program has evaluated and determined meet Safer Choice criteria. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a rule that will provide EPA, its partners, and the public with the largest-ever dataset of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) manufactured and used in the United States. Every introducer must submit an annual declaration for chemicals that were imported or manufactured from 1 September 2022 to 31 August 2023. It’s a simple online form in AICIS Business Services. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) carried out two campaigns during 2021-2023 to remind companies of their obligation to keep their REACH registrations up to date. As a result, 57 registrations were reported to the national enforcement authorities for further action. 57 of the 689 screened registrations are still in breach of the update requirements under REACH Article 22 after the campaign. This concerns 50 companies in 11 Member States. The Commission has adopted a restriction under the REACH Regulation, which limits the use of intentionally added microplastics in products such as cosmetics, detergents and artificial sports pitches. It will prevent the release to the environment of about half a million tonnes of microplastics. The restriction proposal was prepared by the European Chemicals Agency in early 2019. Safety Share WHMIS stands for the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System. WHMIS is a comprehensive Canadian hazard communication system that provides health and safety information on hazardous products in Canadian workplaces. This course will help you understand and meet your health and safety responsibilities as a manager or supervisor under WHMIS. Have an event you would like to share? Please send details to [email protected]. The World Food Forum officially unveiled its theme for 2023: “Agrifood systems transformation accelerates climate action” and launched its activities for the year culminating in a series of global events, competitions and actions taking place from 16-20 October at the Rome headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The International Baking Association (IBA) trade fair, a leading trade fair for the baking and confectionery industry set for Oct. 22-26 in Munich, will feature an area focused on innovative start-up businesses. Coming together to share in the crucial work of making people safe is now more important than ever, as new safety challenges continue to redefine the ways in which we live and work. Disaster Forum is Canada’s premier event for emergency/crisis management and business continuity professionals to discuss and analyze best practices, tools, and support for the community of practice. Held at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel on October 24 – 26, delegates will have the opportunity to learn from and engage with leaders in Emergency Management and business continuity from industry, government and communities across Canada. IHSA welcomes you to join us via Zoom for the second annual NCSO®/NHSA™ Educational Conference on Thursday, Nov. 23rd at 8:00 a.m. This half-day event will provide NCSO/NHSAs with an opportunity to increase their knowledge of relevant health and safety topics and learn more about some of the key areas important to maintaining their NCSO®/NHSA™ status. As Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada begins to organize logistics around the Wrap-up Conference, we ask that parties interested in attending please reply to this message by September 8, 2023 email to: [email protected] The next European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) Conference will take place on 28 February 2024 in Helsinki. As we are preparing the programme, we want to hear what would be the most important topics for you. So, fill in our short survey and help us shape a relevant and inspiring stakeholder event. The 2024 SOT Annual Meeting and ToxExpo will take place March 10–14, 2024, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Visit the 2024 website to view upcoming deadlines. The Baking Association of Canada’s national baking industry event will feature a bustling trade show and conference, inspirational speakers, education sessions, competitions and demonstrations and countless opportunities to network and benefit your business.Advocacy
Canadian Federal News
Publications targeted for October to December
Commercial Naphthenic Acids Groupa
Industry-Restricted Gas Oils and Kerosenes a
Siloxanes Groupa
Titanium-containing Substances Groupa
Canadian Provincial News
US News
International News
Other Relevant Information
EVENTS
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