Repeal of 16 Food Marketing Authorizations

Summary#

The federal government issued the Order Repealing Certain Marketing Authorizations Issued Under the Food and Drugs Act: SOR/2025-14. It removes 16 older marketing authorizations because recent changes to the food regulations already cover those same permissions. The Order took effect when it was registered on January 31, 2025 (published in the Canada Gazette on February 12, 2025).

What it does#

• Repeals 16 marketing authorizations that were previously issued under the Food and Drugs Act.
• The repealed authorizations covered many categories of food additives, including:
  • anticaking agents
  • bleaching, maturing or dough conditioning agents
  • colouring agents
  • emulsifying, gelling, stabilizing or thickening agents
  • food enzymes
  • firming agents
  • glazing or polishing agents
  • sweeteners
  • preservatives
  • sequestering agents
  • starch‑modifying agents
  • yeast foods
  • carrier or extraction solvents
  • and a category for additives with other accepted uses
• Also repeals the marketing authorization that allowed higher vitamin D levels in milk, goat’s milk and margarine.
• These authorizations are being removed because the relevant permissions were already incorporated into updated regulations (so the authorizations are redundant).

Who's affected#

• Food manufacturers and ingredient suppliers who add or sell products that use the listed additives.
• Food regulators and inspectors, since the rules are now kept in the main food regulations rather than separate authorizations.
• Consumers are unlikely to see immediate changes in what additives are allowed; the change is a regulatory cleanup.
• If it’s unclear whether a specific product or additive is affected, producers or consumers should check the updated food regulations or contact Health Canada.

Why it matters#

• This is mainly housekeeping: it removes duplicate legal instruments so the rules about food additives and vitamin D are kept in one place.
• For businesses and consumers, there should be no change in what additives are allowed or in vitamin D limits, because those permissions were moved into the updated regulations before this Order.
• The change makes the regulatory landscape simpler and easier to follow for people checking which additives are permitted.