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

Notice to the reader:

The online consultation is now closed. Comments and suggestions received during the public consultation period are being considered in the finalization of this document. The final report will be made available as soon as possible.

On March 14, 2012 Health Canada amended the Food and Drug Regulations to permit the use of asparaginase in certain food products.

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

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Summary of comments received

Health Canada's Bureau of Chemical Safety has recently completed a detailed safety assessment of the enzyme asparaginase after receiving a petition requesting that the Food and Drug Regulations be amended to include this enzyme.

Asparaginase is an enzyme that hydrolyses an amino acid, asparagine, to aspartic acid by hydrolyzing the amide in free asparagine to the corresponding acid, aspartic acid.

As a result of this assessment, Health Canada scientists have concluded that there are no health or safety concerns with the use of asparaginase in certain food products, as described in the submission. The Department has therefore initiated the regulatory process to amend Division 16 of the Regulations. The purpose of this communication is to seek public comments on this proposed action.

How to get Involved

This consultation is open for comment starting February 20, 2009 until May 21, 2009. Comments on this proposal may be submitted in writing, by regular mail or electronically. If you are submitting your comments electronically, please use the word "asparaginase" in the subject box of your e-mail.

bcs-bipc@hc-sc.gc.ca

Health Canada
Bureau of Chemical Safety
251 Sir Frederick Banting Drive
Tunney's Pasture, PL: 2203B
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0L2

Phone: 613-957-0973
Fax: 613-954-4674