Should Canada Allow Emergency Imports of Infant Formula and Special Diet Foods During Shortages?

Official title: Updated Proposal - Ministerial class exemption order for the exceptional importation and sale of certain foods for a special dietary purpose to mitigate a shortage or risk of a shortage

Closed Regulations & Permits Agriculture & Food Health & Safety
Health Canada wants to create a permanent backup plan for when infant formula and special diet foods run short. Right now, Canada relies on temporary policies to allow imports of foreign products during shortages. This proposal would make that process official, letting the government quickly approve imports from trusted countries like the US, EU, and UK when Canadian supplies fall short.

Why This Matters

Have a baby who needs special formula? Know someone with a metabolic disorder who depends on specific foods? Canada's small market and limited suppliers make us vulnerable to shortages. The 2022-2023 infant formula crisis showed what happens when supply chains break down. This rule would help ensure families can still access critical nutrition products when regular supplies run out.

What Could Change

Health Canada would gain permanent authority to fast-track imports of infant formula, human milk fortifiers, and formulated liquid diets from approved countries during shortages. Products wouldn't need to meet all Canadian labelling rules, but would need bilingual safety information. The government could add or remove countries from the approved list as needed.

Key Issues

  • Which foreign countries should be trusted to supply emergency food products?
  • What labelling requirements should apply to emergency imports?
  • Should metabolic disorder foods be included in this framework or handled separately?

How to Participate

  1. Review the proposed ministerial exemption order and the draft standardized template for labelling information.
  2. Email your comments to bpiia-bpaii@hc-sc.gc.ca.

Key Documents