Finance committee  I do not have that figure right now, but essentially we could table that information before the committee.

Finance committee  The changes that are in fact proposed here are not accounted for as part of the deficit reduction action plan, so there are no changes to the budgets allocated to the evaluation of substances.

Finance committee  The department has identified a number of efficiency gains related to the overall operations of the department, and there will be changes overall to the food program as a result of that.

Finance committee  Thank you, honourable member, for the question. I can give an example in the area of food additives with regard to the amount of time that actually can be taken after the scientific assessment has been completed and essentially the substance to be added to foods is deemed to be

Finance committee  No, it's correct; essentially there is no change to the scientific decision-making process whatsoever.

Health committee  On the addition of vitamin D, in fact it's actually the addition of nutrients.

Health committee  Yes, it's essentially the addition of nutrients. In fact, this is an area that is closely scrutinized under our regulations, so essentially before having the approval for the addition of a vitamin such as vitamin D to a number of foods, it has to be evaluated by our scientists. T

Health committee  If I may expand, there are a number of initiatives within the area of labelling and nutrition information disclosure specifically. There are a number of initiatives under way. I have mentioned that we are working on updating the nutrition labelling requirements, even though thes

Health committee  Thank you. In response to your first question, there are indeed a certain number of tangible steps aimed at updating the nutrition facts table. They will be carried out in conjunction with the sodium reduction strategy. First of all, when you look at the table, you probably noti

Health committee  Thank you for the question. You're definitely raising an issue that we have with our nutrition labelling regulations. As you've mentioned, we're the first country in the world to have these regulations on a mandatory basis, to have a nutrition facts table. Therefore I would say

Health committee  I would say that your interest, by itself, will be an additional support for us, as a department, in completing this endeavour. There is the commitment there to complete these regulations.

Health committee  My colleagues from the Public Health Agency of Canada, with the permission of the chair, will answer.

Health committee  Thank you for the question. These regulations are clearly intended to make sure that Canadians with food allergies or gluten intolerances can limit the risk of inadvertently consuming a food product--particularly a pre-packaged food--with the culprit ingredient to which they ar

Health committee  Thank you for the question. I wouldn't actually qualify it as a delay. These regulations are very complex regulations. I don't know if any of you have had a chance to look at division I of part B of the food and drug regulations. It is one of the most complex, I would say, and p

Health committee  Sure. The strategy, as it was published, recommended the reduction of sodium intake for Canadians and has set a milestone for that reduction. It is an ambitious milestone to get Canadians' intake of sodium to less than 2,300 milligrams per day by 2016. The strategy essentially