Submission Guidelines for the Acceptability of Novel Packaging Materials

There is a wide variety of packaging materials on the marketplace intended for food use. These include, cartons, wrapping materials, plastic films, synthetic casings, nettings, trays, pouches, bags and other materials that come into direct contact with the food product (primary packages).

As a general requirement, packaging materials shall not impart any undesirable substance to the food product, either chemically or physically. Furthermore, they shall protect the food product from contamination (Food and Drug Regulations B.23.001 - No person shall sell any food in a package that may yield to its contents any substance that may be injurious to the health of a consumer of the Food).

Manufacturers and Importers of Packaging materials (from countries authorized for export to Canada) with a well established history of safe use or those that are chemically inert, i.e., metal cans, glass containers, etc., are generally exempt from the above-noted submission guidelines (pre-approval process). Conversely, for packaging materials that do not have a well established history of safe food use, i.e., novel, the CFIA will provide manufacturers/importers with a complete evaluation of their acceptability.

Requests for evaluations can be completed by filling out the form Food Packaging Materials - Application for Evaluation of Use in Federally Registered Food Establishments - PDF (107 kb).

Manufacturers/importers are required to prepare a submission that includes the following information:

  1. Complete identification of the material.
  2. Details pertaining to the intended usage i.e., type of food to be packaged, packaging and storage temperatures, migration studies, if necessary, etc.
  3. Complete chemical composition of the materials, listing the ingredients by percentage. Each component must be chemically identified and include the trade name, the C.A.S. (Chemical Abstract Service) number and manufacturers.
  4. Identification of all chemical agents which are used during the manufacturing process as processing agents but are not components of the finished product.
  5. A sample of the material. The sample should be adequately identified with all the other information provided. These are to be forwarded free on board (F.O.B.) to the following address (freight, custom duties, brokerage and delivery costs prepaid).

Note: Before importing or marketing a food product packaged in a new packaging material, the manufacturer or importer should expect a delay of 3 months, if the CFIA and/or Health Canada maintain good collaboration with the manufacturer and their distributors during the processing of the request for evaluation and registration of the material.

Applicable Regulations:

Food and Drug Regulations

Division 23. Food Packaging Materials

Division 27. Low-Acid Foods Packaged in Hermetically Sealed Containers

Division 28. Novel Foods