Supplemented Foods Temporary Market Authorizations (TMAs)

Health Canada defines supplemented foods generally as “prepackaged foods with added vitamins, minerals, amino acids and/or other ingredients such as caffeine.” Examples of supplemented foods include beverages with added minerals, caffeinated energy drinks, and snack bars with added vitamins.

A supplemented food must  be approved through a review process called a TMAL or Temporary Market Authorization Letter.

Recently, the federal government introduced a Regulatory framework for supplemented foods via amendments (the “Amendments”) to the Food and Drug Regulations (FDR) (the “Regulations”). The framework establishes maximum amounts per serving for supplemental ingredients, prescribes cautionary statements and caution identifiers to be placed on the labels of supplemented foods, and requires display of a Supplemented Food Facts Table.

The Amendments came into force on July 21, 2022. Supplemented foods that are already marketed under a TMA, or for which a TMA application was submitted before July 21, 2022, must comply with the new framework by January 1, 2026.However, new supplemented foods must comply immediately.