Canada Proposes to transfer the maximum level (ML) for patulin in apple juice and unfermented apple cider from the List of Maximum Levels for Various Chemical Contaminants in Foods to the regulatory List of Contaminants and Other Adulterating Substances in Foods

Health Canada's Proposal to transfer the maximum level (ML) for patulin in apple juice and unfermented apple cider from the List of Maximum Levels for Various Chemical Contaminants in Foods to the regulatory List of Contaminants and Other Adulterating Substances in Foods

The List of Maximum Levels for Various Chemical Contaminants in Foods specifies an ML of 50 parts per billion (p.p.b.) (expressed in the list as 50 µg/kg or micrograms per kilogram) for patulin in apple juice, including the apple juice portion of any juice blends or drinks, and unfermented apple cider. If these foods contain patulin at concentrations above 50 p.p.b., they would be considered in violation of section 4(1) of the Food and Drugs Act.

The existing ML for patulin in apple juice was established by Health Canada in 2011. The Department has confirmed that this ML continues to be health protective and relevant in the Canadian context.

Health Canada is proposing to transfer the existing ML for patulin in apple juice, including the apple juice portion of any juice blends or drinks, and unfermented apple cider from the List of Maximum Levels for Various Chemical Contaminants in Foods to the regulatory List of Contaminants and Other Adulterating Substances in Foods, thereby removing this ML from the first list. It is the intention of Health Canada to modify Part 2 of the List of Contaminants and Other Adulterating Substances in Food as outlined. Footnote 1, which explains that MLs also apply to the food when it is present as an ingredient in another food, would make the qualifying text that follows the current listing of "apple juice" redundant. Therefore, the text "including the apple juice portion of any juice blends or drinks" will not appear after apple juice in the proposed listing.

Products covered: Patulin in apple juice and unfermented apple cider 

Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy): The proposed ML will be legally enabled once it is published in Health Canada's List of Contaminants and Other Adulterating Substances in Foods. Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy): Not applicable

Proposed date of entry into force: [ ] Six months from date of publication, and/or (dd/mm/yy): The ML noted in this document comes into force the day on which the modifications are made to the List of Contaminants and Other Adulterating Substances in Foods.

Final date for comments: [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification and/or (dd/mm/yy): 17 October 2017

If the Proposal/Notification/Regulation will affect your International Business please send us your representation with facts and figures , so that these can be taken up suitably.