Regulatory
REGULATORY NEWS FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 18, 2023
We started this newsletter in 2021 when Food Preventive Control Services Canada Inc. (FPCSC) was launched to distinguish food related consulting services from Chemical Compliance CA Inc. (CCCA), which has been in business since 2002. The purpose of the newsletter is to keep both you and our teams up to date on legislative changes whether they be food, pharma, cosmetic or chemical related. It is virtually impossible to keep pace with regulatory changes when you’re busy trying to operate your businesses, so we hope that the newsletter provides you with a credible source of information. We have been asked and have purposely declined opportunities to allow advertisers to use our newsletter so that it maintains it primary purpose: to inform. Since launching FPCSC in April of 2021 we went from 1 customer to 83 and counting. To provide an opportunity to advocate on behalf of small business we are members of the Canadian Supply Chain Food Safety Coalition which works closely with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Health Canada. We also serve on the Technical Working Group of the Baking Association of Canada. During 2024 we will be presenting at various regional, national and international conferences. Our newsletter is opened by 40-45% of its 360 subscribers (which continues to grow each month). During 2023 we have processed the following: To get the most of our newsletter I’ll explain how its written. Food news items come first in each news section followed by chemical related news items. Provincial news is usually related to occupational health and safety issues or items that would be of interest to employers and can include employment standards, worker compensation and environmental/transport topics. The US news is sometimes quite lengthy and what happens in Europe will usually be considered by Canadian regulators. We are grateful to have many international subscribers who are keen to know what is going on in different parts of the world that could impact their operations and export opportunities. Our newsletter concludes with a safety share which can apply at work or at home or in both settings. To improve our newsletter please send us any suggests, critiques or topics you would find beneficial to make your life easier. Above all this newsletter would not be possible without you. Please accept our best wishes for a safe and health holiday season and prosperous 2024. Thank you! Health Canada’s Consumer Product Safety Program is reminding subscribers that as of December 20, 2023 we will no longer be providing email notifications for product safety recalls via Consumer Product Safety News. The Government of Canada is launching pre-budget consultations to hear from Canadians about what matters most to them in advance of Budget 2024—the next step in the federal government’s economic plan. Canadians can participate in pre-budget consultations by sharing their ideas and priorities at LetsTalkBudget24.ca until February 9, 2024. The 46th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission agreed to adopt key new guidelines on the safe use and re-use of water in food production and processing. These guidelines provide a framework of general principles and examples for applying a risk-based approach to determine if the water to be sourced, used, and re-used by food business operators involved in food production and processing is fit for purpose from a microbiological safety perspective. Health Canada’s Food Directorate received a food additive submission seeking authorization for the use of allura red as a colouring agent in fruit flavoured beer. The requested maximum level of use is 10 p.p.m. The function of this food additive is to give a hint of colour indicative of the fruit flavour added to the product. The above modification came into force December 12, 2023, the day it was published in the List of Permitted Colouring Agents. Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) recognize that the food export regime under the Food and Drugs Act (FDA) does not align with the food export provisions set out under the Safe Food for Canadians Act (SFCA) and its Regulations (SFCR). This misalignment has resulted in unnecessary barriers for certain Canadian manufacturers who wish to produce packaged foods destined solely for sale in foreign markets (that is, for export only). In light of this situation, and in discussion with Health Canada, the CFIA will prioritize enforcement of the food export requirements of the SFCA/SFCR until further notice. The CFIA will, however, continue to respond to export-related complaints under the FDA and will consider any enforcement action as appropriate. This joint interim policy statement does not apply to packaged foods intended for sale in Canada. The Bureau of Nutritional Sciences invites you to a webinar on Tuesday January 16, 2024 at 1:30 pm ET to cover Health Canada’s proposal to modernize the regulations for foods for special dietary use and infant foods which was released on November 28th, 2023. The webinar will include an overview of the current regulatory framework and its challenges, a walk-through of the proposed modernized framework and guiding principles, next steps, and an opportunity to ask questions. The proposed Regulations Amending the Regulations Respecting Reduction in the Release of Methane and Certain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) (Upstream Oil and Gas Sector) would build on the existing regulations to reduce upstream oil and gas methane emissions through the introduction of emission standards and work practices to inspect sites and make repairs. The proposed Amendments would also introduce a new performance-based compliance option designed to focus on emissions outcomes, rather than prescribing a specific pathway to compliance. The proposed Regulations would allow the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to perform its mandate in Canadian preclearance operations located in the United States by providing integrated border services that support national security and public safety priorities as well as facilitate the free flow of persons and goods, including animals and plants. In addition, the proposed Regulations would ensure that operations in the preclearance environment are as efficient and effective as the operations at the Port of Entry (POE) in Canada. This bulletin explains shipping document requirements. It does not change, create, amend, or suggest deviations to the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (TDG Regulations). For specific details, consult Part 3 of the TDG Regulations. Electronic shipping documents are not permitted, while in transit. 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 Premier of Alberta and the Minister of Environment and Protected Areas released a statement after attending the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (COP28) in Dubai. WorkSafeBC has published a number of items that may be of interest regarding duration of benefits for workers who are over 63 when injured; wage loss benefits; and are launching a consultation on amendments to Part 3 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. The Regulation respecting mandatory reporting of certain emissions of contaminants into the atmosphere (chapter Q-2, r. 15) is amended to increase the scope of operators and reporting thresholds. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is confirming the effective date of December 22, 2023, for the final rule that appeared in the Federal Register of August 9, 2023. the direct final rule amends FDA regulations to no longer provide for the use of partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) in food given FDAs determination that PHOs are no longer generally recognized as safe (GRAS). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a supplemental response to the citizen petition dated April 18, 2018, from Bonumose, Inc., regarding the percent Daily Value (%DV) declaration for added sugars for products containing D-tagatose. D-tagatose must be declared as an added sugar on the Nutrition Facts label, but it contains fewer calories than sucrose, or table sugar. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is providing an update on ongoing activities related to serious adverse event reporting mandated by the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA), which are enforceable starting December 29, 2023. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its draft risk evaluation for the flame retardant Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) (CASRN 115-96-8) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for public comment. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it is beginning the process to prioritize five additional toxic chemicals for risk evaluation under the nation’s premier chemical safety law. If, during the 12-month long statutory process, EPA designates these five chemicals as High Priority Substances, EPA will then begin risk evaluations for these chemicals. EPA plans to prioritize the following chemicals for risk evaluation under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA): New requirements for submitting workplace injury and illness information to OSHA go into effect Jan. 1/24. Employers that meet certain size and industry criteria must provide 2023 injury and illness data between Jan. 2 and March 2, 2024. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Department of Transportation (DOT) requests approval to renew the ICR titled “Accident Recordkeeping Requirements.” This ICR relates to Agency requirements that motor carriers maintain a record of accidents involving their commercial motor vehicles (CMVs). Motor carriers are not required to report this data to FMCSA, but must produce it upon inquiry by authorized Federal, State, or local officials. DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before January 16, 2024. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 24 chemical substances that were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs) and are also subject to an Order issued by EPA pursuant to TSCA. The SNURs require persons who intend to manufacture (defined by statute to include import) or process any of these chemical substances for an activity that is designated as a significant new use by this rule to notify EPA at least 90 days before commencing that activity. This rule is effective on February 16, 2024. Four (4) publications were issued this past week regarding motor carrier licensing and recordkeeping requirements. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) released the updated Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory data showing that emissions significantly decreased in 2020 when the global pandemic slowed economic activity, increased in 2021 as the economy recovered, and is projected to decrease again in 2022. The data show that emissions in California have steadily declined over the years, despite the dramatic swings due to the pandemic. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) have listed 28 substances for evaluation by EU Member States under the Community Rolling Action Plan (CoRAP) for 2024-2026. Ten are planned to be evaluated in 2024, including a group of four substances. 18 are listed for evaluation in 2025 and 2026. Safety Share Travelling to or from Canada? The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has a few tips for smoother travel, which you should know before you go. The CBSA invests significant effort planning and preparing for peak periods, including holidays. We monitor traveller volumes and work hard to minimize border wait times at ports of entry, including international airports, without compromising safety and security. Help the CBSA by learning and following the tips provided for a smoother trip. Have an event you would like to share? Please send details to [email protected]. The Forum is an annual event and brings together scientists and public and private stakeholders with expertise on endocrine disruptors to exchange information and best practices, identify challenges and build synergies. This year the Forum will include sessions on regulatory updates by the European Commission and Agencies; global developments; research; national, regional and local initiatives; and a specific focus on PFAS. The Future of Food is back – live and in-person. Join us in Ottawa this February and connect with innovative leaders in agriculture and food. In this exciting day, you’ll learn how agriculture and food are evolving and innovating to drive change in creating a better future. 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
Canadian Provincial News
US News
International News
Other Relevant Information
EVENTS
Comments are closed