Consultation: Proposed compositional requirements for infant foods and foods currently regulated as foods for special dietary use

Current status: Open

Opened on October 23, 2024 and will close to new input on January 22, 2025.

Health Canada is seeking comments on its proposal for compositional requirements for infant foods and foods currently regulated as foods for special dietary use. These foods are regulated under Divisions 24 and 25 of the Food and Drug Regulations.

How to participate

1. Review the proposed compositional requirements for infant foods and foods currently regulated as foods for special dietary use, including the 'Questions for stakeholders' which are listed at the end of each food category section within the paper.
2. Send an e-mail to bns-bsn@hc-sc.gc.ca with your responses to the consultation questions. You can also send your responses by mail using the contact information below.

Who is the focus of this consultation

We are seeking input from all interested stakeholders, including:

• health professionals and associated organizations
• industry stakeholders and associated organizations
• non-governmental organizations
• academics and researchers
• all levels of government
• consumers, including:
  • patients
  • parents and caregivers

Key questions for discussion

We are seeking your input on the proposed compositional requirements for:

• infant formula
• medical foods for ages one or more
• medical foods represented as a total diet replacement for weight reduction
• conventional infant foods
  • for example, infant cereals and fruit purees
• gluten-free foods
• formulated nutritional foods (currently regulated as meal replacements and nutritional supplements)

The input gathered through this process will help inform the development of draft regulations which are anticipated to be published in the Canada Gazette, Part I for comment, in spring 2026.

Contact us

Bureau of Nutritional Sciences, Food and Nutrition Directorate
Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada
251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway
Mail stop 2203E
Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9
Email: bns-bsn@hc-sc.gc.ca