Canadian Food Regulations: Modifications to the Lists of Permitted Food Additives are Coming

Posted November 7, 2025

In Canada, food additives are regulated under Division 16 of the Food and Drug Regulations. Prior to 2012, the regulations contained tables listing permitted additives directly. These were replaced in 2012 with 15 Lists of Permitted Food Additives, which are incorporated by reference into the regulations. This approach allows Health Canada to update the lists more efficiently, whether to authorize new additives or expand existing uses. The authority to regulate food additives in Canada is established under the Safe Food for Canadians Act and related legislation, and Health Canada is responsible for enforcement. The process of developing food regulations and policies involves government departments creating, enforcing, and updating standards for food safety, additives, and labelling to protect public health and ensure informed consumer choices. Similarly, the FDA in the United States plays a key role in regulating food safety, food additives, and labeling, with authority to develop and enforce related regulations.

As part of the Food Directorate’s ongoing modernization efforts, updates are coming to further streamline the Lists of Permitted Food Additives. These expected regulatory changes are anticipated to clarify processes and impact industry practices by ensuring consistency in official documentation. The complexity of the regulatory process, including the challenges of amending regulations and evaluating new substances, requires careful assessment and stakeholder engagement. The proposal process for modifying or removing food additives from permitted lists involves official government notices, scientific assessment, and public consultation.

When the 15 lists were first introduced, only one common name was retained, with synonyms moved into the Permitted Synonyms for Food Additives Table, giving companies the flexibility to use either the common name or any approved synonym on their ingredient lists. The upcoming changes announced by the Food Directorate will not affect food labelling requirements. Amendments and updates to the lists are made through formal regulations amending the Food and Drug Regulations, which come into force on the date specified in the official government documentation.

Introduction to Food Additives

Food additives are substances intentionally added to foods to improve their quality, texture, flavor, appearance, or shelf life. In Canada, the use of food additives is carefully regulated by Health Canada’s regulations and guidelines to ensure that all foods available to Canadians are safe and of high nutritional quality. The regulatory framework for food additives is established under the Food and Drugs Act and detailed in the Food and Drug Regulations, specifically Part B, which sets out the provisions for permitted food additives, their uses, and labeling requirements.

Health Canada plays a central role in safeguarding public health by evaluating the safety of food additives before they are approved for use. This process involves a thorough review of scientific evidence to assess potential risks and benefits, including the impact of veterinary drug residues, agricultural chemicals, and pest control products on human health. The importance of identifying, assessing, and managing hazards—including chemical and microbial risks—is emphasized to ensure food safety and address potential health effects such as allergies or hormone disruption. The goal is to minimize risks and ensure that only safe and effective food additives are permitted in the Canadian food supply.

The regulations governing food additives are dynamic and responsive to new scientific developments. Amendments to the Food and Drug Regulations are published in the Canada Gazette, providing official notice of regulatory changes. Regulatory updates also include microbiological criteria to ensure food safety and quality. Health Canada maintains incorporated lists of permitted food additives, which serve as a reference for both the food industry and consumers, ensuring transparency and consistency in the marketplace.

Collaboration is a key part of the regulatory process. Health Canada works closely with stakeholders—including industry, consumers, and other government agencies—to develop guidance documents and ensure that regulations are clear, consistent, and effective. The agency also provides guidance on labeling requirements under the Labelling Act, helping consumers make informed choices about the foods they purchase. The regulation of food claims, including health and nutrition claims, requires that such claims be scientifically validated and compliant with regulatory standards to ensure consumers receive truthful and non-misleading information.

The regulation of food additives is an ongoing process that involves continuous monitoring and evaluation to keep pace with advances in food science and technology. Health Canada’s science-based approach ensures that food additives are used in a way that maximizes benefits, such as improved food safety and nutritional quality, while minimizing potential risks to human health. However, current regulations have limited capabilities in detecting and managing low-level or chronic risks, especially in areas involving long-term health effects or low-dose exposures.

Examples of food additives commonly used in Canada include preservatives to extend shelf life, flavoring preparations and spices to enhance taste, sweeteners to provide alternative options to sugar, and vitamins and minerals to boost nutritional value. These substances play an important role in food processing and manufacturing, but their use is strictly regulated to ensure they meet Health Canada’s safety standards. There is a distinction between food additives and processing aids: while additives are intended to have an effect on the food, processing aids are substances used during processing that do not have a technical effect in the final product, and both require regulatory approval. Packaging materials are also regulated to prevent contamination, ensure safety, and address environmental concerns related to packaging waste and microplastics. In addition to agricultural chemicals and pest control products, pesticides are considered as part of the chemical risks evaluated in food additive regulation.

Ultimately, Health Canada’s oversight of food additives helps protect Canadians by ensuring that foods are safe, nutritious, and accurately labeled. This regulatory system supports a fair and competitive marketplace, providing both industry and consumers with clear guidance and confidence in the safety of the Canadian food supply.

Background on Permitted Food Additives

The regulation of food additives in Canada is guided by a robust framework designed to protect public health and ensure the nutritional quality of foods available to Canadians. Under the Food and Drug Regulations, which operate within the broader context of the Food and Drugs Act, food additives are defined as substances added to foods to achieve specific technical effects, such as enhancing flavor, improving texture, or extending shelf life. Health Canada is the authority responsible for evaluating and authorizing the use of permitted food additives, ensuring that every substance meets stringent safety and quality standards before it can be used in the Canadian marketplace.

Health Canada’s regulatory process is grounded in scientific evidence. Before a food additive is added to the incorporated lists of permitted food additives, it undergoes a comprehensive risk assessment. This evaluation considers potential health risks, the impact on nutritional quality, and the intended technical effect of the additive. The process also takes into account the presence of related substances, such as preservatives, sweeteners, and spices, as well as the potential for residues from agricultural chemicals, veterinary drugs, or pest control products. Only additives that are determined to be safe and effective are permitted for use, and their conditions of use are clearly specified in the regulations.

Amendments to the Food and Drug Regulations, including updates to the lists of permitted food additives, are published in the Canada Gazette, the official publication of the Government of Canada. This ensures transparency and provides notice to industry stakeholders and consumers about regulatory changes. The regulatory process also involves consultation with stakeholders, including food manufacturers, industry associations, and consumer groups, to ensure that amendments are practical, science-based, and consistent with the goals of food safety and public health.

The Government of Canada, through Health Canada, is also responsible for enforcing related legislation such as the Pest Control Products Act and the Labelling Act. These acts work in tandem with the Food and Drug Regulations to provide a comprehensive system for managing the risks associated with food additives and ensuring that foods are accurately labeled for consumers. The regulatory framework is designed to be dynamic, allowing for the regular review and updating of incorporated lists to reflect new scientific knowledge, technological advances, and evolving consumer expectations.

By maintaining a rigorous and transparent regulatory process, Health Canada helps to minimize risks associated with food additives, safeguard the nutritional quality of foods, and provide clear guidance to both industry and consumers. This ongoing commitment to food safety and regulatory consistency supports a trustworthy food system and reinforces Canada’s reputation for high standards in food regulation.

Key corrective modifications include:

List of Permitted Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or Thickening Agents

“Propylene Glycol Ether of Methylcellulose” will be removed, as it is simply a synonym for “Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose,” which is already listed with the same use conditions in the same table

List of Permitted Food Additives with Other Accepted Uses

“Triacetin” will be replaced by its common name “Glycerol Triacetate.”

List of Permitted Solvents

“Glycerol” will replace the current common name “Glycerin.”

These modifications will take effect October 20, 2025.

Do you have questions about how these changes may affect your product? Want to confirm you’re using permitted food additives correctly? Contact Dell Tech today.

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