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Health Canada has notified RiceTec Inc. that it has no objection to the food use of herbicide tolerant rice line RTC1. The Department conducted a comprehensive assessment of this rice line according to its Guidelines for the Safety Assessment of Novel Foods.

Health Canada has notified BASF that it has no objection to the food use of rice expressing endogenous acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACCase) containing a single amino acid mutation which confers tolerance to the aryloxyphenoxypropionate (FOP) and cyclohexanediones (DIM) group of herbicides used to control grass weeds. The Department conducted a comprehensive assessment of this rice event according to its Guidelines for the Safety Assessment of Novel Foods.

Arsenic is naturally occurring in the environment, and very low levels are present in various foods. Elevated arsenic exposure from drinking water has been associated with a variety of serious adverse health effects, with potential effects noted in vulnerable populations such as infants and children. Rice and rice-containing products are a major contributor to dietary exposure to inorganic arsenic in all ages, including infants and young children. In June 2020, Health Canada’s Food Directorate issued a Notice of Modification (NOM, NOM/ADM C-2020-1) to add maximum levels (ML) for inorganic arsenic in polished (white) and husked (brown) rice.

​A targeted survey analyzed 495 samples of wheat products, oat products, rice products, and other grains (e.g. barley, quinoa) for ochratoxin A (naturally occurring toxin released by molds. This mold occurs when grains are improperly stored. OTA was found in 45% of samples tested.

Therefore, Health Canada added two new maximum levels for inorganic arsenic in polished (white) and husked (brown) rice, respectively, to Part 2 of the List of Contaminants and Other Adulterating Substances in Foods, effective June 5, 2020, as described in the information document.

Health Canada has notified Cargill Inc. that it has no objection to the sale of sucromalt as a food ingredient that can be used as a partial or complete substitute for sweetening agents available in the Canadian market, e.g. sucrose, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), brown rice syrup and malt syrup. The Department has reviewed the information provided by Cargill Inc. in support of the acceptability and safety of sucromalt as a food ingredient.

Food contaminants and other adulterating substances are chemicals that may be present in foods at levels that could impact the overall safety and/or quality of foods. These substances can either be inadvertently present in foods or, in some cases, intentionally added for fraudulent purposes. Establishing a prohibition or maximum level (ML) is a form of risk management that may be employed to reduce exposure to a particular chemical contaminant in foods.

Food contaminants and other adulterating substances are chemicals that may be present in foods at levels that could impact the overall safety and/or quality of foods. These substances can either be inadvertently present in foods or in some cases intentionally added for fraudulent purposes. Establishing maximum levels (MLs) is a form of risk management that may be employed to reduce exposure to a particular chemical contaminant in foods.

Health Canada has notified Bayer CropScience that it has no objection to the food use of GlyTol™ Cotton Event GHB614. The Department conducted a comprehensive assessment of this cotton event according to its Guidelines for the Safety Assessment of Novel Foods.

Health Canada has notified BASF Canada Inc. that it has no objection to the food use of herbicide tolerant cotton event GHB811 (GHB811). This event was initially submitted to the Department as an asset owned by Bayer CropScience Inc. During the assessment of this event, the ownership of this asset was transferred to BASF Canada Inc. The Department conducted a comprehensive assessment of this cotton variety according to its Guidelines for the Safety Assessment of Novel Foods.