Health committee  That's part of the analysis that we have to provide to inform the decision-making process. We have to look at all the implications for all the solutions and all the options that are up there, particularly for the regulatory solution. We look at the implications and the replacement options and study them to the extent of our scientific knowledge because, as we know, science evolves far faster than we can actually sometimes cope with.

Health committee  We'll have to see whether there is a need for another snapshot and whether there has been an evolution since then. We have, of course, the nutrition facts table, which we've actually verified now as a good tool. We have shown the effectiveness of it, and at least in the prepackaged sector we can rely on the information it provides on the levels of trans fat.

Health committee  We're in discussion with our colleagues at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and there is already interest on the part of the U.S. FDA to look at decreasing the level of trans fat. It's a North American problem, as mentioned. It's not only a Canadian problem in that regard.

Health committee  Our understanding is that there are international efforts in that regard, particularly across the North American border. As we know, the food industry is a really integrated industry, particularly at the North American level. It's an integrated supply. We could say that what is happening in Canada has driven formulation down as well in the United States, at least for those who have reformulated.

Health committee  The monitoring program was focused to try to capture as much information as possible on the sources of intake of trans fats. It was essentially focusing on those foods that were known to have higher levels, so it focused at first on the prepackaged food sectors. Essentially a sampling plan was developed to capture over 80% of the market share for the prepackaged food sector.

Health committee  The definition of “trans fat free” for products is actually enshrined right now in our regulations. It would allow products to bear that statement if they do not contain amounts of more than 0.2 grams per serving. That's essentially for the composition of the food itself. Vis-à-vis the other jurisdictions, nutrition labelling in Europe does not encompass trans fat labelling at this point.

Health committee  In clarification of the way the 1% has been used, I'll say that the 1% refers to how much energy is brought by trans fat. The objective is to not have trans fat account for more than 1% of the energy coming from the diet. The way that Health Canada supported the work of the trans fat task force in that regard was to look at the Canadian diet and at the available products.

Health committee  Yes.

Health committee  That's an estimation that will have to be made based on the data available. It would take the outcomes of the monitoring program and the consumption patterns of Canadians and look at all this information together to see where we are right now and where we could achieve even more.

Health committee  This is why I want to tie the regulatory option to the availability of alternatives. In order for the regulatory option to be effective, to result in a reduction of trans fats, we need a source of oilseeds that will allow us to reach that goal. The regulatory option is on the table.

Health committee  I think it has to do with the availability of the supply, so it would be having more supply that would no longer have the trans fat alternative, such as resorting to other sources such as the canola sources that were mentioned by industry. There are already frying oil alternatives that would completely mitigate and eliminate the level of trans fats.

Health committee  I believe Canada is definitely playing a leadership role in North America because we have taken action early on. As I mentioned, Canada was the first jurisdiction to mandate the labelling of trans fat in the nutritional facts table. Also, reduction efforts as a result of the task force on trans fat have been witnessed.

Health committee  I would like to clarify the way I presented the various options. The regulatory option is on the table. We must assess how it would work, especially enforcement-wise. If we go with a regulatory option, if we want to bring trans fats down to the level recommended by the working group, we must ensure that it is feasible, that the regulations can be implemented and enforced...

Health committee  Maybe I'll let Ron speak to that more specifically. Would you like to comment?

Health committee  The situation of Canada and of North America is somewhat different from other jurisdictions because we already have a supply that has traditionally been higher in trans fat levels, so while what is happening in other jurisdictions is useful and informative, we have to adapt the solutions to the Canadian context, and specifically around the availability of those oils and those replacement options that would allow food processing with the lowest level of trans fat.