Understanding Canadian Food Regulations

Virtual Learning6 hours

Course Overview

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Let us come to you! Onsite or virtual private training available. Contact us for more information!

This two-part virtual, instructor-led training program covers Canadian food regulations and compliance considerations. It focuses on introducing the food laws and the authorities that govern food. New proposed regulations and regulatory modernization are also discussed, including what is currently final (nutrition and ingredient labelling) and what is still being worked on (front of package nutrition information, CFIA’s food labelling modernization and everything else). We also discuss and speculate on how future modernization might unfold to provide a better working context of the changes coming, and how and when they might fit together.

Part 1 – Knowledge Exchange Session Part I – Virtual: 2.5 hours

Part 2 – Knowledge Exchange Session Part II – Virtual: 2.5 hours

This program helps build awareness and confidence in managing food compliance. It is an ideal program to take prior to more advanced and specific courses, such as Canadian Food Labelling, Canadian Ingredient Labelling and Canadian Nutrition Labelling.

What this course covers

Knowledge Exchange Session 1: Agenda and Training Topics

  • The Authorities (Federal vs. Provincial):

  • Federal vs. provincial

  • Roles and responsibilities of CFIA and Health Canada

  • Federal government food regulatory structure

  • A bit about enforcement and compliance risk assessments

  • The Legislation (Acts and Regulations, with focus on Federal legislation):

  • Provincial: Contrasting between federal and provincial legislations, exploring language, composition standards and other compliance influences

  • SFCA and SFCR (Federal): An overview of the SFCA as well SFCR:

  • What it governs

  • Licensing, preventative control and preventive control plans overview

  • Food standards of identity and composition

  • Food labelling requirements

  • The role of the Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Act and Regulations in enforcing the SFCR

  • FDA & FDR (Federal): An overview of the FDA as well FDR:

  • What it governs

  • Food standards of identity and composition

  • Food labelling requirements

  • Role in governing food additive and novel foods

  • How the FDR and SFCR work in governing foods

  • Food adulteration

  • Compliance Resources

  • Introduction to compliance resources such as access points to legislation

  • Helpful resources and tips on finding information

Knowledge Exchange Session 2: Agenda and Training Topics

  • Mechanics of Legislation:

  • Acts versus regulations

  • Understanding key definitions and scope of regulations

  • Trade and commerce considerations

  • Intraprovincial, interprovincial, importing and exporting foods in view of legislation

  • How acts and regulations are made

  • How marketing authorizations and incorporation by reference are and will be used in governing ambulatory regulatory matters like food additives, reference amounts, etc.

  • The role of Canada Gazette in compliance

  • Notices of proposals and modifications for food additives incorporated by reference and other documents incorporated by reference

  • What are TMAs, IMAs, MAs, test markets, ministerial exemptions, and when and how they are employed

  • What foods need prior approval

  • Commodity Specific:

  • Federal versus provincial authority (e.g. yogurt, bottled water, maple products, etc.)

  • How meat, fish, dairy, processed fruit and vegetable products are classified in view of applicable regulations

  • The impact of classification on labelling, standards and container sizes

  • What novel foods are and how they are regulated

  • Legislative Perspectives:

  • Discussion of various regulatory topics and how they relate to the overall picture of compliance (e.g. organic labelling, product of Canada, non-GMO claims, etc.)

Through the use of specific case examples, we aim to demonstrate how regulations, guidelines and policies influence compliance.

  • Modernization:

  • A big picture overview of what else CFIA and Health Canada have in mind, and the general timing of when this might be moved to proposed and then final regulations

Topics include front of package nutrition information, sweetener statement repeals, Canada’s Food Guide and CFIA proposed modernization of almost all other elements on a food label, such as the name of the food, dealer name address, country of origin, best before dates, etc.

Excluded topics:

  • Natural health products

  • Infant formula

  • Medical foods

An email address is required for registration and to receive the login instructions.

Upon registration, you will receive an email with instructions on how to access the training course through NSF’s eLearning portal. Any additional information pertaining to the course will be sent in your confirmation email.

You will find your course material and homework/exam on the NSF Learner portal. You will need to access the portal in order to successfully complete the course and print your certificate. Upon successful course completion, you will gain access to print your official NSF Certificate.

Who should Attend

Operational, Quality, Technical Staff and Food Safety personnel working in manufacturing or retail with food safety plans and programs. Also suitable for professionals new to the industry.

View the Full Course Description

Course Objective

At the end of the program, learners will be able to: 

  • The food authorities in Canada and their roles in governing foods in Canada 

  • The federal and provincial regulatory landscape and how these interact in compliance considerations related to intraprovincial, interprovincial and international trade 

  • Federal acts and regulations, such as the Food and Drugs Act and the Safe Food for Canadians Act, affecting the sale of food in Canada 

  • How to navigate the Canadian legislation 

  • How the Food and Drug Regulations (FDR) and the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) relate to food standards, composition, definitions, food additives and labelling 

  • How the FDR and SFCR work together to govern food in Canada 

  • How to categorize and compare product classifications and jurisdictional considerations (e.g. meat, processed fruit and vegetable products, manufactured food, etc.)  

  • How laws and regulations are made, and the timing of their changes 

  • How interim marketing authorizations (IMAs), marketing authorizations (MAs) and temporary marketing authorizations (TMALs) influence food compliance  

  • The compliance role of documents incorporated by reference (e.g. organic standards, food additives, food standards, etc.) 

  • The influence of regulations, guidelines and policies on compliance (case studies include dietary fibre, organic, non-GMO and product of Canada claims) 

  • Compliance resources and how to use them more effectively 

  • How the Canadian Food Inspection Agency enforces food law 

  • What is happening with, and the timing of, food regulatory modernization 

 

Partners 

Legal Suites Inc. goal is to help professionals better manage regulatory compliance through education, information resources and hands on guidance. 

 

Computer and Internet Connection: 

You will need regular access to a computer with an internet connection. High speed broadband access (LAN, Cable or DSL) is recommended. 

Compatible Web Browsers: Firefox, Chrome, Safari, IE Edge and higher 

 

Accommodations 

NSF is committed to accommodating the learning requirements of all our stakeholders. If you require special assistance for any reason, please contact us at nsftraining.na@nsf.org 

Additional Recommended Courses

U.S. Food Labeling Under the FDA - November

Looking to train your team? You might benefit from private training.
Let us come to you! Onsite or virtual private training available. Contact us for more information!

This virtual, instructor-led training program provides a comprehensive overview of human food labeling requirements under the authority of the U.S. FDA and compliance considerations. Topics of focus also include the new nutrition facts panel. This training course is delivered in two sessions (listed as the start & end date), with a day(s) in between with no class for self work. The schedule is as follows:

Day One:

  • Training Session 1A - Knowledge Exchange Webinar: 3 hours (8:45 am - 12:00 am)
  • Training Session 1B - Knowledge Exchange Webinar: 3 hours (1:00 pm - 4 pm)

Day Two:

  • Practicum Webinar: 3 hours (12:45 pm - 4 pm)

The Legal Suites’ Mini U.S. Nutrition Labeling Guide is provided as part of the course materials.

* Attendees will need to complete the U.S. FOOD LABELING PRACTICUM 2020 assignment on their own time prior to the live online practicum review session.

What this course covers

  • Day One (Sessions 1A and 1B) focuses on knowledge exchange, where attendees are introduced to and walked through U.S. food labeling requirements and can ask questions.
  • Day Two is a live online practicum where, as a group, we review the assignments introduced in part one (completed individually). The practicum focuses on the knowledge and skills of managing food labeling requirements.

An email address is required for registration and to receive the login instructions.

Upon registration, you will receive an email with instructions on how to access the training course through NSF’s eLearning portal. Any additional information pertaining to the course will be sent in your confirmation email.

You will find your course material and homework/exam on the NSF Learner portal. You will need to access the portal in order to successfully complete the course and print your certificate. Upon successful course completion, you will gain access to print your official NSF Certificate.

Who should Attend

Operational, Quality, Technical Staff and Food Safety personnel working in manufacturing or retail with food safety plans and programs. Also suitable for professionals new to the industry.

Canadian Food Labelling Workshop - October

Looking to train your team? You might benefit from private training.
Let us come to you! Onsite or virtual private training available. Contact us for more information!

Gain an overview of current labelling regulations, including Health Canada’s regulatory amendments to ingredient and nutrition labelling (December 2016).

This training course is delivered in two sessions (listed as the start & end date), with a day(s) in between with no class for self work. The schedule is as follows:

Day 1:
Training Session 1A - Knowledge Exchange Webinar: 3 hours (8:45 am - 12:00 pm)
Training Session 1B - Knowledge Exchange Webinar: 3 hours (1:00 pm - 4 pm)

Day 2:
Practicum Webinar: 3 hours (12:45 pm - 4 pm)

This training program covers:

  • Food labelling under federal jurisdiction for a wide range of foods from processed goods to meat and poultry products.
  • Basic labelling considerations (common name, net contents, ingredient list, nutrition facts and dealer name and address)
  • Additional labelling considerations that may apply (storage information, durable life dates, artificial sweetener statements, vignettes, artificial flavours, country of origin, etc.).

This course provides a great foundation for the Canadian Ingredient and Nutrition Labelling courses.

Also covered in this course! Take a peek at CFIA’s food labelling modernization initiative on date marking, legibility of information, dealer name and address, country of origin and more! Proposed rules are expected to be finalized in 2020 or perhaps early 2021, phased in by end of 2022 and 2026.

An email address is required for registration and to receive the login instructions.

Upon registration, you will receive an email with instructions on how to access the training course through NSF’s eLearning portal. Any additional information pertaining to the course will be sent in your confirmation email.

You will find your course material and homework/exam on the NSF Learner portal. You will need to access the portal in order to successfully complete the course and print your certificate. Upon successful course completion, you will gain access to print your official NSF Certificate.

Who should Attend

Operational, Quality, Technical Staff and Food Safety personnel working in manufacturing or retail with food safety plans and programs. Also suitable for professionals new to the industry.

Getting to Know Canadian Food Labelling

Looking to train your team? You might benefit from private training.
Registering more than 5 people? You might benefit from private training.
Let us come to you! Onsite or virtual private training available.
Contact us for more information!

Ready to get a handle on Canadian food labelling? Join us for a half-day virtual workshop that provides a great overview of food labels in Canada. This course is perfect for anyone who wants to understand the basics and stay on top of current and upcoming labelling rules.

An email address is required for registration and to receive the login instructions.
Upon registration, you will receive an email with instructions on how to access the training course through NSF’s eLearning portal. Any additional information pertaining to the course will be sent in your confirmation email.


You will find your course material and homework/exam on the eLearning portal. You will need to access the portal in order to successfully complete the course and print your certificate. Upon successful course completion, you will gain access to print your official NSF Certificate.

Who should Attend

Operational, Quality, Technical Staff and Food Safety personnel working in manufacturing or retail with food safety plans and programs. Also suitable for professionals new to the industry.