NOTIFICATION

Addendum

The following communication, dated 5 September 2025, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of Canada.

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Title: Modification to the Table of Nutrient Content Statements and Claims (free of sugars)

Description: Health Canada's Food and Nutrition Directorate has modified the Table of Permitted Nutrient Content Statements and Claims (Table), to reinstate the energy requirement exemption for chewing gum for the "free of sugars" claim (Item 37, column 2, paragraph (b)). The updated Regulations Amending the Food and Drug Regulations (Nutrition Symbols, Other Labelling Provisions, Partially Hydrogenated Oils and Vitamin D) published in Part II of the Canada Gazette (July 2022) included modifications to the energy requirements of the "free of sugars" claim (item 37 of the table following section B.01.513). These changes, which were intended to make the energy requirements less restrictive, unintentionally affected chewing gums. As a result, chewing gums that were previously exempt from these requirements may no longer have been in compliance with the regulations after the transition period ending on December 31, 2025. The modification to the Table rectifies this oversight by reinstating the chewing gum exemption for the "free of sugars" claim and is further described in the notice.

The purpose of this information document is to publicly announce the Department's decision and action in this regard and to provide the appropriate contact information for those wishing to submit comments, inquiries or new scientific information relevant to the modification.

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