Canadian Beer Industry May Prompt Delays in Labeling Rules

Canada's beer industry opposes Canada's new labeling requirement, arguing it is cost prohibitive to implement, especially for smaller brewers.

February 08, 2011

VANCOUVER - New labeling rules designed to protect Canadians with food allergies could be delayed after a lobbying campaign by the country's beer industry, the Vancouver Sun reports.

Canada's Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq tried to assure health groups last week that the new labeling rules would be announced within the coming weeks. However, her spokesperson declined to confirm whether the rules would exempt the beer industry, which has opposed the new regulations.

The regulations require companies to identify ingredients and alert consumers if a food or beverage contains a known allergen. However, implementation was delayed subsequent to a request by Canadian brewers to exempt their industry.

Last week, Anaphylaxis Canada and the Canadian Celiac Association protested the delay and any exemptions for brewers.

"After years of development, consultation and debate, these amendments brought forward by Health Canada seem to have been parked on the prime minister's desk due to some last-minute views of one industry sector," said Jim McCarthy, executive director of the Canadian Celiac Association. "[A]ny major changes to the proposed regulations at this stage ?" after your minister of health committed in writing to us that final approval was imminent ?" would call into question the very legitimacy of the entire 18 month public and stakeholder consultation process."

The beer industry opposed the labeling requirement, arguing it would have been cost prohibitive to implement, especially for smaller brewers that paint their labels onto the bottles. The Brewers Association of Canada also said that those with gluten allergies already know that they must avoid beer.

The labels were aimed at people with celiac disease, which is characterized by a gluten intolerance. However, the labeling rules would have also applied to specialty beers that contain chocolate and traces of nuts, a life-threatening allergy for many Canadians.

"We need to open up this issue to the decision-makers and the beer companies, that it's not just a gluten issue," said Marilyn Allen, a founding member of Anaphylaxis Canada.

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