Modification to Buffer Zone Between the Front-of-Package Nutrition Symbol and the Supplemented Food Caution Identifier, and Between Nutrition Symbols

"Health Canada has modified the buffer zone specifications between front-of-package nutrition symbols and supplemented food caution identifiers to allow more flexibility in label design. The changes aim to maintain integrity and distinctiveness of symbols while providing more space on labels. It includes the following information: Amendments to the Food and Drug Regulations (FDR) effective July 20, 2022, require certain prepackaged products to display a FOP nutrition symbol, and as of July 21, 2022, supplemented foods requiring cautionary statements must display an SFCI Some foods may need to carry both the FOP nutrition symbol and the SFCI on their principal display panel. Additionally, products with an assortment of foods may need to carry more than one FOP nutrition symbol and/or the SFCI The SFCI helps consumers make informed choices when there are health or safety risks associated with a food, while the FOP nutrition symbol helps identify foods high in saturated fat, sugars, and sodium Health Canada received feedback from industry organizations and manufacturers about the space taken up by displaying both the FOP nutrition symbol and the SFCI on product labels. In response, Health Canada modified the Directory of Nutrition Symbol Specifications and the Directory of Supplemented Food Caution Identifier Specifications to allow a buffer as small as 0 mm between these symbols when they share a border The modification to the buffer zone specifications came into force on July 15, 2024, and is enforced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Health Canada published a Notice of Proposal (NOP) regarding the buffer zones on September 25, 2023, which was open for public comment for 75 days. Ten comments were received during the consultation period, which ended on December 8, 2023 The modification is permissive, meaning regulated parties can choose whether to comply with the new 0 mm buffer zone specifications or the original specifications in the FDR. This provides flexibility for businesses to use up stocks of labels with the original buffer requirements or to implement a 0 mm buffer zone as part of future label redesigns The proposal maintained despite various stakeholder comments, including suggestions for a glossary of terms for supplements and ingredients, inquiries into importation and labeling practices for imported foods, and discussions on identifying terminology for ingredients and their labeling The modification does not introduce a new requirement regarding the presentation of the FOP nutrition symbol or the SFCI but provides additional flexibility for label space management Manufacturers and distributors are responsible for ensuring that their products comply with applicable legislation and regulation, including the Safe Food for Canadians Act and Safe Food for Canadians Regulations"