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