Dr. R. W. - University of Nebraska;Maurer, Dr. Arthur - University ofWisconsin; Mazza, Dr. Joe - Ag.Canada; McCurdy, Dr. A. - Univer­sity of Saskatchewan; McCurdy,Dr. S. - POS Pilot Plant Corp.;McGinnis, Mr. D. - Ag. Canada;Mittal, Dr. G. - University of Guelph;Modler, Dr. W. - Ag. Canada; Mohr,Dr. Willard - Ag. Canada; Moyls,Dr. A.L. - Ag. Canada; Mullin, Dr. J.- Ag. Canada; Noble, Dr. A. ­University of California; Ozinek, Dr. L.- University of Alberta; Packer, Dr.Gordon - Vauxhall Foods; Palcic,Dr. M. - University of Alberta;Paquin, Dr. P. - Laval University;Park, Dr. C. - HPB; Pamell-Clunies,Dr. E. - Ault Dairies; Postes, Ms. L.

- Ag. Canada; Ramaswamy, Dr. S.- Macdonald College of McGiII Univer-sity; Randall, Dr. Ches - Ag.Canada; Rinker, Dr. Dan - HRIO;Roth, Mr. Lawrence - AlbertaAgriculture; Rubin, Dr. L. - Universityof Toronto; Sanford, Dr. Katherine ­Ag. Canada; Savoie, Dr. L. - LavalUniversity; Sosulski, Dr. F. - Univer­sity of Saskatchewan; Scanlon, Dr.Martin - University of Manitoba;Scura, Dr. Brent - University ofBritish Columbia; Shambrock, Mr.Dave - Canadian Food ProductsDevelopment Centre; Simard, Dr. R.- Lava/ University; Skura, Dr. B. ­University of British Columbia; Smith,Dr. J. - McGill University; Sohal,Dr. T.S. - University of Manitoba;

Spoms, Dr. Peter - University ofAlberta; Sprung, Mr. W. - CanadianFood Products Development Centre;Steinke, Dr. F. - Ralston Purina;Stiles, Dr. M. - University of Alberta;Sundeen, Dr. G. - Canadian MeatCouncil; Swanson, Dr. B. - Washing­ton State University; Swatland, Dr. H.- University of Guelph; Thompson,Dr. R. - USDA; Timbers, Dr. G. ­Ag. Canada; Weadon, Dr. D.B. ­Ogilvie Mills; Wong, Dr. Sam - HR/O;Wood, Dr. Darrell - Stange CanadaInc.; Woodward, Dr. S.A. - Univer­sity of Florida; Wu, Dr. Lung-Chia ­Campbelllnst. for Res. & Technology;York, Ms. Roberta - FreshwaterInstitute; Zawistowski, Dr. U. ­University of Manitoba.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Canadian Institute of Food Science and Technology is seeking ahighly motivated individual to serve as Executive Director of this 2,500member professional organization. The incumbent will be responsible forthe general management and continuing development of the Institutethrough it's Head Office in Ottawa. To motivate and co-ordinate volun­teers is also an important responsibility.

Candidates will be evaluated on their interpersonal skills, managementcapabilities, technical experience and above all, the energy and en­thusiasm they would bring to this challenging position.

Terms of employment will be discussed at the Institute's Annual Meet­ing in June and made available to interested candidates.

Please apply in confidence to:Canadian Institute of Food Science and Technology,National Office.46 Elgin St., Suite 48.Ottawa. Onto Kl P 5K6.

Applications must be received by July 11, 1988.

are made are in conformity with theGuidelines on Nutrition Labelling andthe Food and Drug Regulations. TheHealth Protection Branch will continueto analyze the nutrient content offoods.

"Nutrition Labelling" will consist ofa heading, a statement of the servingsize and a statement of at least theenergy value and content of protein, fatand carbohydrate (core list) plus otheroptional nutrients listed in a stan­dardized order. The use of nutritionlabelling will be entirely voluntary.When applied, however, certainaspects regarding the form and man­ner in which it is to appear will be regu­lated. These are as follows: nomencla­ture, the units in which the amounts of

industry and protection to consumers.It intends to seek the views ofinterested parties regarding these sug­gestions by means of a paper issued fordiscussion and comment. It is expectedthat when the Proposed Guidelines onNutrition Labelling which follow are infinal form and appropriate guidelinesfor nutrition claims have been arrivedat, they will both be included in theGuide for Food Manufacturers andAdvertisers, published by the Depart­ment of Consumer and CorporateAffairs,

The Department of Consumer andCorporate Affairs will continue to exa­mine labels and advertisements toensure that the form and manner inwhich statements of nutrient content

Position Available

INSIGHTS

Proposed guidelines regarding thevoluntary nutrition labelling of foodshave been published. The implementa­tion of these guidelines will coincidewith the promulgation of the amend­ments to the Food and Drug Regula­tions pertaining to statements concern­ing the nutritional properties of foods.These amendments are contained inSchedule of Amendments No. 655(Schedule No. 655) published asproposals in The Canada Gazette,Part I. The amendments would removesome of the current restrictions on thedeclaration of the nutrient content offoods and introduce regulations to per­mit the use of specific statements ofnutrient content which, when groupedtogether, will constitute the voluntarynutrition labelling scheme.

Under the proposed amendments tothe Food and Drug Regulations, manyclaims not previously allowed for thenutritional properties of foods would nolonger be subject to specific regulatorycontrols, but would, rather, be subjectto the more general provisions of theFood and Drugs Act or Consumer Pack­aging and Labelling Act. Certain claims,although not specifically prohibited bythe Regulations, could nevertheless bein violation of these Acts. The Depart­ment of Consumer and CorporateAffairs in consultation with the HealthProtection Branch of the Department ofNational Health and Welfare has deve­loped a set of suggestions dealing withthe propriety of such claims, so as tocontinue to provide advice to the food

Can. Insl. Food Sci. Technol. J. Vol. 21, No. 3, 1988 lA / 215

nutrients are to be expressed, and thepresentation on the basis of a servingof stated size. It should be noted thatSubsection B.01.012(2) of the Foodand Drug Regulations requires that allmandatory information be shown onthe label in both official languages.

Statements or claims relating to thenutritional properties of foods wouldnecessitate a declaration of the amountof the nutrient(s) involved, in the formand manner specified by regulation,consistent with the proposed format ofnutrition labelling.

The Food and Drug Regulationsalready contain detailed requirementsfor the declaration of the nutrient con­tent of formulated liquid diets (SectionB.24.103), human milk substitutes(infant formula) and foods that arerepresented as containing human milksubstitutes (Section B.25.057). Theserequirements are not affected by eitherthe nutrition labelling guidelines or theproposed amendments in Schedule No.655. It should also be noted that theprovisions in Division 3 of Part D of theFood and Drug Regulations controllingthe addition of vitamins, mineralnutrients and amino acids to foods willremain.

Copies of the proposed Guidelinesand explanatory notes on Schedule ofAmendments No. 655 can be obtainedfrom B.L. Smith, Chief, Food Regula­tory Affairs Division, Health andWelfare Canada, Room 200, H.P.Building, Tunney's Pasture, OttawaK1A OL2 (or call 613-990-7093).

NEWS FROM OTHERASSOCIATIONS

In 1982, the Directors General of theFood and Agriculture Organization(FAO) of the United Nations, the Inter­national Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)and the World Health Organization(WHO) invited member states of thethree organizations to consider forminga consultative group to focus on inter­national cooperation on food irradia­tion. Upon receipt of a favourableresponse from 44 out of 45 memberstates which replied to the invitation,the three U.N. organizations conveneda meeting in 1983 to draft a proposalto establish the International Consulta­tive Group on Food Irradiation (ICGFI).The first meeting of ICGFI, attended by22 countries, was held in December

216 / lA

1984. The group meets annually inVienna at the International Centre. Itnow has 26 member states. Develop­ing countries represent over half of themembership. Each member countrycontributes funds and/or support serv­ices to support activities of ICGFI. Thesponsoring organizations provide meet­ing facilities and services, as well as asmall secretariat with representationfrom FAO, WHO and IAEA. Thesecretariat is in the Joint FAO/lAEADivision of Isotope and Radiation Appli­cations for Food and Agriculture inVienna.

The functions of ICGFI are:(a) to evaluate global developments in

the field of food irradiation;(b) to provide a focal point of advice

on the application of food irradia­tion to member states and thethree organizations; and

(c) to furnish information as required,through the organization to theJoint FAO/IAEA/WHO Expert Com­mittee on the wholesomeness ofirradiated food and the CodexAlimentarius Commission.

ICGFI addresses matters such assafety assurance of the process, legis­lation and standards, public informa­tion, economic feasibility, trade andtechnical training. The CanadianGovernment hosted the task force on"Marketing and Public Relations" inOttawa in September 1986.

The objective of ICGFI is to providescientifically-sound information onsafe, effective applications of foodirradiation which will contribute toimproved world food supplies, reducedfood wastes, reduction of food-bornepathogens, and facilitate reduced useof chemicals in foods. This informationwill assist governments, industry andconsumers to make objective decisionson the irradiation of food.

Dr. Norman W. Tape, Director, FoodResearch Centre, Agriculture Canada,Ottawa, was elected chairman of ICGFIin 1986. The most recent meeting inNovember 1987 was attended by 18of the 26 member countries, as well asrepresentatives of the three sponsor­ing organizations (FAO, WHO andIAEA). Other international organiza­tions represented were the Interna­tional Finance Corporation of the WorldBank, the International Trade Centre ofUNCTAD, the Council of the EuropeanCommunity, and the Association ofInternational Industrial Irradiation.

During 1987, ICGFI publishedseveral reports including "trade promo­tion of irradiated foods'" "use of irradi­ation to ensure hygienic quality";"irradiation as a quarantine treat­ment"; "guidelines for acceptance of

food irradiation"; and a "handbook onconducting feasibility studies". A com­pendium of national legislation on foodirradiation was also published. Otheractivities of ICGFI include the prepara­tion of a 22-minute video on food irradi­ation; publication of a fact sheet onsafety and wholesomeness of irradi­ated foods; and the conduct of inter­national workshops on food irradiationcontrol, and irradiation as a quarantinetreatment.

In 1987, ICGFI initiated the develop­ment of the following: a model regula­tion for use by national authorities inlicensing the use of irradiation facilities;an international register of licensedfood irradiation facilities; technologicalguidelines for the irradiation of eightdifferent products; a curriculum for aprocess control school; and five pub­lic information brochures.

As part of its 1988 program of work,ICGFI will support a December 1988international conference in Geneva onthe acceptance, control and trade ofirradiated foods, sponsored by FAO,WHO, IAEA, and ITC of UNCTAD; con­vene workshops on economic feasibil­ity (Israel), hygienic quality (Nether­lands), and reduction of post-harvestlosses (Israel); conduct a process con­trol school in Canada at the CanadianIrradiation Centre, conduct an inter­american trade coordination seminar inChile; publish inventories of licensedfood irradiation facilities, product clear­ances, facilities, and national regula­tions; and to publish technologicalguidelines on eight product applica­tions.

Additional information on the activi­ties of ICGFI can be obtained from Dr.N.W. Tape, Director, Food ResearchCentre, Ottawa, Ontario, K 1A OC6.ICGFI publications are available fromMr. P. Loaharanu, Joint FAO/IAEA Divi­sion, International Atomic EnergyAgency, Wagramerstrasse 5, P.O. Box100, A-1400 Vienna, Austria.

This report has been prepared byDr. Norman W. Tape,

Director, Food Research Centre,Research Branch, Agriculture Canada,

Ottawa, Ontario.

J. Inst. Can. Sel. Teehnol. Aliment. VD!. 21, No. 3, 1988