Public involvement and partnerships

Effective and meaningful public involvement is essential to enable Health Canada to fulfill its legislative mandate, deliver programs, launch new initiatives and build public trust.

Health Canada's role

Health Canada provides information and opportunities for Canadians to become meaningfully involved in our decision-making processes regarding priorities, policies and programs.

Health Canada's Office of Consumer and Public Involvement supports Canadians in understanding how decisions are made about food and nutrition products and helps make sure that their perspective is considered in the decision-making process. The Department also consults Canadians on proposed changes to regulation through the Canada Gazette Part I.

What information is available?

In this section, you will find information on public involvement and consultation related to food and nutrition.

Find more information on the departmental consultation activities.

Consultations and notifications

• Notice of Intent to make a ministerial class exemption order for the exceptional importation of certain foods for a special dietary purpose to mitigate a shortage or risk of a shortage [2024-10-01]
• Notice of Intent to Repeal Sixteen Food-Related Marketing Authorizations [2024-01-29]
• Notice to stakeholders: transition strategy to prepare for the expiration of Health Canada's interim policy to mitigate infant formula shortages [2023-12-18]
• Consultation: Regulatory modernization of foods for special dietary use and infant foods [2023-11-28]
• Consultation on the proposed Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Concerning Food Additives and Compositional Standards, Microbiological Criteria and Methods of Analysis for Food [2023-11-04]
• Notice of intent regarding the Minister of Health's intention to publish marketing authorizations to permit vitamin D fortification of yogurt and kefir and expand the eligibility for the dairy-related exemption from the front-of-package nutrition labelling requirement [2023-07-28]
• Notice to stakeholders: Health Canada's strategy to manage shortages of infant formula and other foods for a special dietary purpose and to modernize related regulations [2023-05-16]
• Consultation: Restricting food advertising primarily directed at children [2023-04-25]
• Notice of Intent to the Modify the List of Permitted Food Additives with Other Accepted Uses to Revise the Use of Caffeine and Caffeine Citrate in Cola Type Beverages – Reference Number: NOI/ADI-0004 [2022-07-21]
• Share your thoughts: Consultation on the development of voluntary guidance for providing food information for foods sold to consumers through e-commerce [2022-05-09]
• Notice of Intent regarding the Minister of Health's intention to publish a Marketing Authorization to permit increased vitamin D levels in milks and margarine [2021-07-22]
• Consultation: Proposed regulations for supplemented foods [2021-06-26]
• Notice of Intent to Issue Food Marketing Authorization [2021-04-14]
• Consultation: Proposed new guidance for Novel Food Regulations focused on plant breeding [2021-03-25]
• Consultation on Proposed Joint Policy Statement on Food Labelling Coordination [2021-02-02]
• Call for data on food additives in certain food flavouring preparations [2020-04-21]
• Notice of Intent to Issue Food Marketing Authorization [2019-04-08]
• Health Canada Request for Input and Scientific Data: Vibrio parahaemolyticus in oyster shellstock intended for raw consumption [2019-03-06]
• Notice of intent to amend the Food and Drug Regulations to restrict the amount of alcohol in single-serve highly sweetened alcoholic beverages [2018-03-19]
• Consultation on proposed front-of-package labelling [2018-02-10]
• Consultation on Guidance for Submitting Whole Genome Sequencing Data to Support the Pre-Market Assessment of Novel Foods, Novel Feeds and Plants with Novel Traits [2017-05-31]
• Consultation on the Food Directorate's Draft Guideline on Reducing the Risk of Clostridium botulinum in Plant and Mushroom Products Stored in Oil [2017-05-23]
• Consultation on the Food Directorate's Draft Guidance Document on Ready-to-Eat Smoked Fish and Multi-Ingredient Products Containing Smoked Fish [2017-04-04]
• Summary of Comments Received as part of Health Canada's 2013-2014 Call for Data to Assess the Effectiveness of Acrylamide Reduction Strategies in Food [2017-03-08]
• September 2016: Food Directorate Update: Path Forward for Contaminants and Other Adulterating Substances in Foods [2016-09-22]
• Notice of Intent to Issue a Food Marketing Authorization Amending the Marketing Authorization for Food Additives with Other Generally Accepted Uses [2016-09-09]
• Health Canada Request for Scientific Data and Information: Cyclospora cayetanensison Fresh Leafy Vegetables [2016-08-31]
• Results of the Consultation on the Food Directorate's Proposed Pre-Market Submission Management Process for Food Additives, Infant Formulas and Novel Foods [2016-08-30]
• Health Canada Request for Scientific Data and Information: Foodborne pathogens in dried sprouted seeds [2016-03-24]
• Summary of Comments and Responses to Health Canada's Proposed Amendments to the Regulatory Tolerances for Arsenic and Lead in a Variety of Beverages [2016-01-28]
• Policy for Issuing an Interim Letter of No Objection (iLONO) for a Food Processing Aid [2015-07-31]
• Consultation Summary: Notice of Intent to issue a Food Marketing Authorization to Allow Gluten-Free Claims for Specially Produced Gluten Free Oats and Products Containing Such Oats [2015-05-29]
• Updated: Celiac Disease and Gluten-Free Claims on Uncontaminated Oats [2015-05-29]
• Consultation: Celiac Disease and Gluten-Free Claims on Uncontaminated Oats [2014-11-14]
• Notice of Intent to Issue a Food Marketing Authorization - Proposed Marketing Authorization to allow gluten-free claims for specially produced 'gluten-free oats' and products containing such oats under certain conditions [2014-11-14]
• Consultation on the Food Directorate's Proposed Pre-Market Submission Management Process for Food Additives, Infant Formulas and Novel Foods [2014-10-07]
• Health Canada's Technical Consultation on Proposed Changes to the Format Requirements for the Display of Nutrition and Other Information on Food Labels [2014-07-14]
• Health Canada's Technical Consultation on Proposed Changes to the Core Nutrients Declared in the Canadian Nutrition Facts Table [2014-07-14]
• Health Canada's Technical Consultation on Proposed Changes to the Daily Values (DVs) for Use in Nutrition labelling [2014-07-14]
• Health Canada's Technical Consultation on Revising Reference Amounts in Schedule M of the Food and Drug Regulations. Updating reference amounts to support proposed new serving size guidelines. [2014-07-14]
• Technical Consultation - Proposed Changes to the Tolerances for Arsenic and Lead in Fruit Juice, Fruit Nectar, Beverages when Ready-to-Serve, and Water in Sealed Containers [2014-06-19]
• Technical Consultation: Health Canada Call for Data to Assess the Effectiveness of Acrylamide Reduction Strategies in Food [2017-03-09]
• Technical Consultation - Policy Intent for Issuing an Interim Letter of No Objection (iLONO) for Processing Aids [2013-10-24]
• Technical Consultation - Health Canada's 2013 Call for Data on Adventitious Presence of Soy [2013-09-19]
• Technical Consultation on Health Canada's Draft Guidance Document on Food Health Claims Related to Post-Prandial Glycaemia
• Health Canada Request for Scientific Data and Information: E. coli O157 in mechanically tenderized raw beef products
• Consultation on the Proposed Domestic Policy and Implementation Framework for the Management of Low-Level Presence (LLP) of Genetically Modified Crops in Imports
• Canada and USA Joint Risk Assessment on Norovirus in Bivalve Molluscan Shellfish
• Consultation on Health Canada's Guidance Document: Draft Guidance for Industry on Novelty Determination of High Pressure Processing (HPP)-Treated Food Products
• Technical Consultation on the Draft Document - Satiety Health Claims on Food
• Information Document on Health Canada's Proposal to Amend the Food and Drug Regulations to permit the use of calcium acid pyrophosphate in standardized baking powder and unstandardized foods, including unstandardized bakery products
• Technical Consultation on Health Canada's proposal to amend the Food and Drug Regulations ("Regulations") to permit the use of acacia gum (gum arabic) modified with Octenyl Succinic Anhydride (OSA) as an emulsifier
• Consultation on Health Canada's Proposed Standard (Maximum Level) for the Presence of the Mycotoxin Patulin in Apple Juice and Unfermented Apple Cider
  • Summary of Comments from Health Canada's Consultation on its Proposal to Introduce a Maximum Level for the Presence of Patulin in Apple Juice and Unfermented Apple Cider Sold in Canada
• Information Document on Health Canada's Proposal to amend the Food and Drug Regulations to allow the use of cross-linked carboxymethyl cellulose in table-top sweetener tablets
  • Summary of Health Canada's Consultation to amend the Food and Drug Regulations to Permit the Use of Cross-Linked Carboxymethyl Cellulose as a Food Additive in Table-Top Sweetener Tablets
• Consultation on Health Canada's Food Allergen Precautionary Labelling Policy Renewal - Summary of Comments from the Online and Face-to-Face Consultation Sessions
• Nutrition for Healthy Term Infants: Recommendations from Birth to Six Months A joint statement of Health Canada, Canadian Paediatric Society, Dietitians of Canada, and Breastfeeding Committee for Canada
• Nutrition for Healthy Term Infants: Recommendations from Six to 24 Months - A joint statement of Health Canada, Canadian Paediatric Society, Dietitians of Canada, and Breastfeeding Committee for Canada
• Proposed Policy: Definition and Energy Value for Dietary Fibre
• Summary of Health Canada's Consultation to amend the Food and Drug Regulations to permit the use of a microbiological preparation of Carnobacterium maltaromaticum strain CB1 in certain ready-to-eat meat and poultry products
• Information Document on Health Canada's Proposal to Amend the Food and Drug Regulations to permit the use of a microbiological preparation of Carnobacterium maltaromaticum strain CB1 in certain ready-to-eat meat and poultry products
• Stakeholder Consultation on Setting Sodium Reduction Targets (January 2011)
  • Summary of the January 2011 Consultation Feedback
• Technical Consultation on Health Canada's Proposal to Amend the Food and Drug Regulations to Permit the use of Citric Acid Esters of Mono- and Diglycerides (1) as a Food Additive in Infant Formulae For Special Medical Purposes; and (2) in those Foods that are Currently Permitted to Contain Monoglyceride Citrate
  • Amendment to the Food and Drug Regulations to permit the use of Citric Acid Esters of Mono- and Diglycerides (1) as a Food Additive in Infant Formulae For Special Medical Purposes; and (2) in those Foods that are Currently Permitted to Contain Monoglyceride Citrate
• Consultation - Proposed Policy Intent for Revising Canada's Gluten-free Labelling requirements"
  • Summary of Comments Received on Health Canada's Proposed Policy Intent for Revising Canada's Gluten-Free Labelling Requirements
• Update on Health Canada's Progress for Setting Sodium Reduction Targets and Questionnaire
  • Summary of the November 2010 Consultation Feedback
  • Summary of the February 2010 Consultation Feedback
• Health Canada Proposal to Improve Food Colour Labelling Requirements [February 2010]
  • Health Canada reviews comments received on the proposed changes to current food colour labelling regulations for prepackaged foods
• Technical Consultation on Health Canada's Proposal to Amend the Food and Drug Regulations to Permit the Use of the Enzyme Asparaginase in Certain Food Products [December 2009]
  • Summary of Comments from Health Canada's Proposal to Amend the Food and Drug Regulations to Permit the Use of Asparaginase in Certain Food Products
• Consultation on the Proposed Revisions to the Policy on Listeria monocytogenes in Ready-To-Eat Foods
  • Summary of Comments Received on Health Canada's proposed policy on Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat (RTE) foods - March to May, 2010.
• Consultation on Precautionary Labelling of Food Allergens
• Summary of Input Received on Health Canada's Consultation to Reinstate Saccharin as a Food Additive
• Summary of Comments Received on Health Canada's Proposed Maximum Limits for Ochratoxin A in Certain Foods - August 2008 to June 2009
• Technical Consultation on Health Canada's Proposal to Amend the Food and Drug Regulations to Permit the Use of the Enzyme Asparaginase in Certain Food Products
  • Summary of Input Received on Health Canada's Consultation to Permit the use of the Enzyme Asparaginase as a Food Additive in Canada.
• Consultation Session of the Multi-stakeholder Working Group on Dietary Sodium Reduction
  • Stakeholder and Expert Perspectives on Dietary Sodium Reduction in Canada 2009
• Managing Health Claims for Food In Canada: Towards a Modernized Framework
  • Health Canada's Action Plan in Response to Stakeholder Feedback from Consultations on Modernizing Canada's Framework for Health Claims on Food
  • Report on Stakeholder Feedback on Modernizing Canada's Framework for Health Claims on Food
  • Report of Regional Workshops on Modernizing Canada's Framework for Health Claims on Food
• Position Paper on Five US Health Claims Considered for Use in Canada
• Regulatory Modernization for Food and Nutrition
  • Summary of Comments from the Consultation on the Regulatory Modernization Strategy for Food and Nutrition (RMSFN)
• Labelling of Unpasteurized Fruit Juice / Cider
• Report of Stakeholder Comments on Proposed Revisions to Health Canada's Guidelines for the Safety Assessment of Novel Foods Derived from Plants and Microorganisms and Health Canada's Response to These Comments
• Making it Clear - Renewing the Federal Regulations on Bottled Water: A Discussion Paper
  • Summary of Consultations and Comments Received on Proposed Revisions to Food and Drug Regulations on Prepackaged Water and Ice