Modification to the List of Permitted Food Enzymes (cellulase)

Notice of Modification – Lists of Permitted Food Additives
Reference number: MFAA-2616
November 10, 2026

Summary

The purpose of this notice is to announce that Health Canada modified the List of Permitted Food Enzymes to authorize the use of cellulase from Trichoderma reesei strain AR-852 as a food enzyme in bread, white flour, whole wheat flour, brewers' mash, malt extract and unstandardized bakery products at a maximum level of use of "Good Manufacturing Practice" (GMP) ^{Footnote 1}, as shown in Table 1.

This modification comes into force on November 10, 2026.

Background

The food additives authorized for use in Canada are set out in the Lists of Permitted Food Additives. These lists are incorporated by reference into Division 16 of the Food and Drug Regulations.

A person, company or organization (referred to as the petitioner) may ask Health Canada to authorize a new food additive use by filing a food additive submission.

Issue

Health Canada received a food additive submission requesting that cellulase from T. reesei AR-852 be authorized for use as a food enzyme at a maximum level of use of GMP in the following foods:

• Bread
• White flour
• Whole wheat flour
• Brewers' mash
• Malt extract
• Unstandardized flours, unstandardized dry mixes such as cake mix, brownie mix, muffin mix, pancake mix, waffle mix, cookie mix, scone mix, and biscuit mix, and unstandardized bakery products (all of which fall within "Unstandardized bakery products" in the Lists of Permitted Food Additives).

At the time the request was filed, cellulase from several other sources was already authorized for use in the requested foods. However, the AR-852 strain of T. reesei was not an authorized source for any food enzyme in Canada.

Rationale

Health Canada completed a premarket assessment of cellulase from T. reesei AR-852 for its requested use. The assessment considered potential dietary exposure to cellulase from T. reesei AR-852, and other food safety aspects (allergenicity, chemistry, microbiology, molecular biology, nutrition, and toxicology).

The outcome of Health Canada's assessment supports authorizing the use of cellulase from T. reesei AR-852, as set out in Table 1.

Modification to the list

Health Canada has authorized the requested use of cellulase from T. reesei AR-852 by adding the new subitem C.4.(6) and its corresponding paragraphs (a) to (d) to the List of Permitted Food Enzymes, as shown in Table 1.

Other relevant information

Food additive specifications

Food additives authorized for use in Canada must meet the specifications set out in the Table of Food Additive Specifications, if they exist.

Food additives which do not have specifications in this table must meet the specifications, if any, set out in the latest edition of one of the following documents:

• Food Chemicals Codex ^{Footnote 2}
• Combined Compendium of Food Additive Specifications ^{Footnote 3}

Implementation and enforcement

The modification shown in Table 1 comes into force on November 10, 2026, the day of its publication in the List of Permitted Food Enzymes.

You can consult the Notices of Proposal and Notices of Modification web page to stay informed of these modifications. You can also register for Health Canada's Consultation and Stakeholder Information Management System to be automatically notified when these notices are issued.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is responsible for the enforcement of the Food and Drugs Act and its associated regulations with respect to foods.

Contact information

If you wish to submit an inquiry or new scientific information about a food additive authorized for use in Canada please contact Health Canada's Bureau of Chemical Safety.

If your communication is specific to this notice, please write "cellulase (MFAA-2616)" in the subject line of your message.

Bureau of Chemical Safety
Food and Nutrition Directorate
251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway
Postal locator 2202C
Tunney's Pasture
Ottawa ON K1A 0K9
Email: bcs-bipc@hc-sc.gc.ca

Useful links

Health Canada:

• Food Additives: Overview

Canadian Food Inspection Agency:

• Permitted synonyms for food additives