Canada Proposes Amendments to the List of Permitted Food Additives

On October 22, 2026, Health Canada issued Notices PASF-2608 and PASF-2609, proposing amendments to the List of Permitted Food Additives. The consultation period will remain open until January 20, 2027.

Key Proposed Amendments

1. Adjustments to Selenium Limits

Caffeinated Energy Drinks: The maximum permitted selenium content would be reduced from 35 μg to 6 μg per serving.

“Foods with Added Nutrients” Other Than Caffeinated Energy Drinks:

• The maximum permitted selenium content would be reduced from 69 μg to 21 μg per serving.
• The selenium content thresholds triggering mandatory warning statements on labels would be lowered from 3 μg and 13 μg to 0 μg and 4 μg, respectively.

2. Adjustments to Vitamin B6 Limits and Warning Requirements

Caffeinated Energy Drinks: The maximum permitted vitamin B6 content would be reduced from 11 mg to 10 mg per serving.

• A new threshold of 2 mg per serving would be introduced. If the vitamin B6 content exceeds this threshold, a warning statement must be included on the label. Currently, no such requirement applies to vitamin B6.

“Fortified Foods” Other Than Caffeinated Energy Drinks:

• The maximum permitted vitamin B6 content would be reduced from 38 mg to 10 mg per serving.
• The threshold triggering a mandatory warning statement on the label would be lowered from 7 mg to 2 mg per serving.

Warning Statement Format:

If the declared vitamin B6 content exceeds 2 mg per serving, the label must include the warning statement “Do not eat/drink more than X serving(s) per day.” Here, X represents the number of servings required to provide the maximum daily amount of vitamin B6, based on the declared vitamin B6 content per serving.

What Can CIRS Do for You

Established in 2007, the CIRS Group is a leading product safety and regulatory consulting firm. CIRS has branch offices in the Republic of Ireland, South Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and China. CIRS Group utilizes its technical expertise, various resources, and international network to provide one-stop compliance services, from regulatory compliance, laboratory testing, and R&D to data services across multiple industries. This includes chemicals, cosmetics, food and food beverages, medical devices, agrochemical products, disinfectants, and consumer goods. It helps clients gain a competitive advantage by reducing business risks associated with regulatory affairs.

The vast majority of members in CIRS Food Business Division have over 10 years of professional experience in food compliance, with more than 80% holding Master’s or Doctoral degrees in food-related disciplines. The CIRS toxicology expert team consists of 24 Chinese Certified Toxicologists (DCST), 2 American Board Certified Toxicologists (DABT), and 1 European Registered Toxicologist (ERT). CIRS has provided one-stop food compliance services to over 1,000 domestic and international food and related enterprises. Leveraging its technical expertise, diverse resources, and global network, the CIRS Food Business Division offers global food compliance services, including but not limited to:

• Health food registration and filing in China;
• Application for “Three New Foods (new food additives, new food raw materials and new food-related products” in China;
• U.S. GRAS, NDI, and CAP notifications;
• EU Novel Food, food additives, and food enzymes applications; and
• Application for new feed ingredients and feed additives in China, the U.S., and the EU.

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