Background

Health Canada's Food Directorate completed an evaluation of available scientific and taxonomic data supporting the re-identification of the source organism name for invertase "Aspergillus japonicus" to "Aspergillus fijiensis" in the List of Permitted Food Enzymes.

Invertase sourced from A. japonicus is permitted in Canada as a food enzyme for use in sucrose used in the production of fructooligosaccharides. Health Canada's Food Directorate received a request that the source organism name for this invertase (Aspergillus japonicus) be updated to "Aspergillus fijiensis", to reflect a re-identification of the original source organism.

Following a review of scientific and taxonomic data, Health Canada's Food Directorate determined that an update to the source organism name, based on re-identification of the source organism, did not require a pre-market safety assessment. Furthermore, there was no need to re-evaluate the safety of the already-permitted source organism A. japonicus. Therefore, Health Canada has enabled the use of invertase from A. fijiensis, by adding the source organism name A. fijiensis, alongside A. japonicus, in the permitted source field in the Listing for Invertase as described in the information document below by modifying the List of Permitted Food Enzymes, effective March 30, 2020.

The purpose of this communication is to publically announce the Department's decision in this regard and to provide the appropriate contact information for any inquiries or for those wishing to submit any new scientific information relevant to the safety of this food additive.

Information document

To obtain an electronic copy of the Notice of Modification to the List of Permitted Food Enzymes to Enable the Use of Aspergillus fijiensis as a Source Organism for Invertase - Reference Number: NOM/ADM-0144, please contact our publications office or send an e-mail to hc.publications-publications.sc@canada.ca with the words "hpfb BCS nom-adm-0144-eng" in the subject line of your e-mail.

Contact Information

Health Canada's Food Directorate is committed to reviewing any new scientific information on the safety in use of any permitted food additive, including invertase from A. fijiensis and A. japonicus. Anyone wishing to submit new scientific information on the use of this additive or to submit any inquiries on this modification may do so in writing, by regular mail or electronically. If you wish to contact the Food Directorate electronically, please use the words "Invertase (NOM-0144)" in the subject line of your e-mail.

Bureau of Chemical Safety, Food Directorate 
251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway
Tunney's Pasture, PL: 2202C
Ottawa, ontario K1A 0L2
E-mail: hc.bcs-bipc.sc@canada.ca

Supporting Information

Food Additives