New Regulatory Updates

The Summary of Regulatory Updates Specific to Beverage Alcohol document below presents a synopsis of the new regulatory requirements impacting the labelling of beverage alcohol products through 2022.  Within this docuement there is an overview of the regulatory changes, transition timing, frequently ask questions (FAQ) and a section that highlights additional web resources.  There are four key regulations that agents, vendors and manufacturers should become familiar with;

1. On December 14, 2016, Health Canada published amendments to food labelling requirements to better inform consumers and evolve regulations to keep pace with innovation in the food industry, this is known as the Food Labelling Modernization Initiative (FLMI). Notable changes include the food labelling requirements for ingredient lists, nutrition facts tables, declaration of sugars and serving size.
2. The Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) set out traceability requirements for food products including beverage alcohol. This new regulation requires that all selling units must bear a lot code and products sold must have traceability records one step forward and one step backward in the supply chain. Further details can be found in both the Summary of Regulatory Requirements and the SFCR Traceability and Lot Code requirements: Frequently Asked Questions documents below.
3.  New regulations concerning the Beer Standard of Identity and associated labelling requirements came into force on April 15, 2019.  Brewers are now required to declare food allergens, gluten sources or added sulphites on the label.  The standard for ale, stout, porter and malt liquor has been repealed. In addition, the use of a flavouring preparation triggers a mandatory declaration as part of the common name. 
4. The new regulations of the Vodka Standard of Identity came into force on June 17, 2019. The changes to the regulations apply to compositional standards and labelling declarations. The new regulations allow vodka to be produced from agricultural products other than potato and cereal grain. When vodka is produced from agricultural material other than just potatoes or cereal grains, the material used in production of the vodka must be indicated on the label with the expression “Produced from” and the name(s) of the agricultural material used.