Canada Considers Positive List Approach For Food Contact Substances

Health Canada has opened a public consultation on a proposed overhaul of how food packaging materials and articles are regulated in Canada. As discussed more fully in our StepLadder Series article, and under the current regulatory framework, Health Canada requires that a food-contact material or article shall be safe for the intended use when food contained in such material or article is placed on the market for sale in Canada. There is no affirmative requirement, however, that Health Canada conduct a safety evaluation (except in limited circumstances). Instead, Health Canada reviews the safety of a food-contact material for its intended use only when a company voluntarily submits a request for a Letter of No Objection (LONO).