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Canadian Front of Package Nutrition Labelling - November -

Virtual Learning6 hours

Course Overview

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

Day 1 - Part 1 - Knowledge Exchange Webinar: 3 hours

Day 2 - Part 2 - Knowledge Exchange Webinar: 3 hours

This two-part virtual, instructor-led training program covers the Canadian front of package (FOP) nutrition labelling under the authority of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). FOP rules were finalized on July 20, 2022. A transition period ends December 31, 2025.

  • The purpose of this training course is to gain a solid understanding of Canadian front of package nutrition labelling, (FOP). These are new Federal food labelling regulations that apply to all consumer prepackaged foods that exceed the applicable threshold levels of sodium, sugar and/or saturated fat, unless an exception applies.

  • The focus is on the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations. This course explores the new rules in detail. Get a better appreciation of what foods are and are not subject to FOP labelling. Learn how to properly select and display an FOP symbol on the principal display panel of a food package.

  • Avoiding FOP labelling may mean formulated or reformulating foods below triggering threshold levels of sodium, sugars and/or saturated fat, (including trans fat). Learn what those threshold levels for various food commodities. Appreciation threshold levels also requires a thorough understanding of reference amounts and nutrition information serving size rules.

  • Prepackaged foods subject to FOP labelling are also subject to restrictions in regard to nutrient content claims as well as the manner in which nutrient content and health claims may be presented on a label. This course explores the peripheral influences of FOP labelling.

Note: A 30 minute after-class session (voluntary) is offered after the Knowledge exchange session and after the Practicum. It is suggested that attendees take this opportunity to get even further acquainted with Canadian FOP labelling. In the after-class session we explore questions from attendees that were not addressed in the knowledge exchange session or questions that just need a bit more explanation. This is similar to an in-class session where the instructor hangs around after-class to address more questions.

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 goal is for learners to be more aware of and competent in Canadian front of package nutrition labelling requirements under the authority of the Canadian Food Inspections Agency, (CFIA). This training program is an ideal next step to the Canadian Food Labelling and Canadian Nutrition Labelling courses. This training is suitable for all experience levels. It is a high-density content training program. 

 

Partners

Legal Suites - Regulatory compliance tools and training  

 

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

Canadian Nutrient Content and Health Claims - 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 is a new Canadian food labelling and advertising offering starting in 2023.

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

Day 1 - Training Session Part 1 - Knowledge Exchange Webinar: 3 hours

Day 2 - No Class

Day 3 - Training Session Part 2 - Practicum Webinar: 3 hours

This two-part virtual, instructor-led training program starts by looking at basic nutrient content & health claims considerations and requirements. Learners are introduced to basic nutrient and health related claims rules, requirements, and prohibitions. A more detailed look at the anatomy of nutrient content and health claims is featured. By the end of the program learners will be better able to understand what nutrient content and health claims would be eligible for their products and how these may and must be declared on labelling and advertising.

This program is an evolution from the Advanced Nutrition Labelling program which has successfully run for the past 15 years. The exciting difference is that this course is purely focused on nutrient content and health claims. It is more accessible to both technical and marketing professionals.

The program offers a ½ day live online knowledge exchange presentation where learners can bring their questions and share their views. A second live online ½ day is dedicated to reviewing the assigned Practicum that learners will complete on their own time. The practicum is not graded and does not need to be submitted. It is an excellent self-evaluation tool where learners can appreciate if they have grasped the subject matter.

Excluded Topics:

  • Natural Health Products

  • Infant Formula

  • Medical Foods

  • Supplemented Foods

  • Front of Packaging Nutrition Symbols

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.

Prerequisites

This is an ideal next step from the online Canadian Nutrition Labelling program.

Canadian Supplemented Food Regulations - December -

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 two-part virtual, instructor-led training program covers the Canadian Supplemented Food Regulations. This is a new category of food in Canada which permits the addition of vitamins, minerals, amino aids and other substances such as caffeine and botanicals to foods. This training course reviews the regulations governing supplemented food. This includes considerations related to what foods are eligible as supplemented foods, what ingredients are permitted in supplements foods and the labelling of supplemented foods.

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

Day 1 - Training Session Part 1 - Knowledge Exchange Webinar: 3 hours

Day 2 - No Class for Self Work

Day 3 - Training Session Part 2 - Practicum Webinar: 3 hours

The course features a ½ day live online knowledge exchange presentation where the basic rules governing supplements foods are reviewed. Learners will then complete an assigned Practicum which will be reviewed in a live online Practicum review session. The practicum does not need to be submitted nor will it be graded.

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.

Understanding Canadian Food Regulations

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 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.