On September 17, 2018, partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) were banned by adding them to Part 1 of the List of Contaminants and other Adulterating Substances in Foods. It is now illegal for manufacturers to add PHOs to foods sold in Canada. This includes both Canadian and imported foods, as well as those prepared in all food service establishments.
Reference Number: NOM/ADM-C-2017-3
September 15, 2017
BackgroundHealth Canada published the Notice of Proposal: Prohibiting the Use of Partially Hydrogenated Oils (PHOs) in Foods – Reference Number: NOP/ADP-C-2017-3 on April 7, 2017, which was open to the public for comments for 75 days.
A total of 30 comments were provided during the comment period. The majority of respondents supported Health Canada’s proposal to prohibit the use of PHOs in foods.
Health Canada is therefore proceeding with prohibiting the use of PHOs by means of an amendment to Part 1 of the List of Contaminants and Other Adulterating Substances in Foods (the List). The prohibition will take effect the day on which PHOs are added to the List, which Health Canada will be amending 12 months from the date of publication of this notice.
Further details are provided in the Notice of Modification available below in the “Information document” section. The purpose of this communication is to publically announce the Department's decision in this regard and to provide the appropriate contact information for inquiries.
Information documentNotice of Modification: Prohibiting the Use of Partially Hydrogenated Oils (PHOs) in Foods – Reference Number: NOM/ADM-C-2017-3.
Contact InformationBureau of Nutritional Sciences, Food Directorate
Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada
251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway
Tunney’s Pasture, PL: 2203E
Ottawa, ON K1A 0L2
Email: bns-bsn@hc-sc.gc.ca
Fax: 613-941-6636
If communicating by fax or e-mail, please use the words “PHO NOM” in the subject line.
