Articles

Turning Insight into Action: What You Told Us About Novel Ingredient Regulation

By Community Manager posted 06-19-2025 08:00

  

Canadian food innovators are developing new ingredients and products that push beyond traditional categories, but outdated regulations haven’t always kept pace. Last month, we launched a pulse poll to better understand how that disconnect is affecting our members. 

Companies from across the country responded, offering firsthand insight into their experiences with Health Canada’s novel food review process. Their responses paint a clear picture: while innovation is accelerating, the path to approval is often slow, unclear, and out of step with the needs of today’s food businesses. 

What You Told Us 

The poll revealed both the breadth of innovation happening across the country and the barriers holding it back. Here are some of the key themes that emerged from your responses: 

  • Innovation is booming: 73% of respondents are developing novel ingredients or products, with a strong focus on sustainability, nutrition, and functionality. 

  • Categories are evolving fast: Respondents highlighted trending categories including gut health ingredients, upcycled inputs, cell-cultivated dairy, and natural clean-label preservatives. 

  • Time matters: Several companies reported regulatory review timelines of 6–12 months, creating barriers to scaling and competing globally—especially in comparison to faster approvals in markets like the U.S. 

  • Regulatory processes lack transparency: While some appreciated Health Canada’s professionalism and guidance, most flagged unclear processes, long timelines, and a lack of flexibility. 

  • There’s a strong appetite for change: Respondents consistently asked for clearer guidance, faster and more efficient review processes, and prioritization of low-risk innovations that align with public health, sustainability, or trade goals. 

How We're Using This Feedback 

These insights are already shaping how we advocate for you. We’ve shared the poll results with Health Canada and other federal partners to underscore the need for a more modern, responsive regulatory environment while showing that CFIN members are ready to lead. 

Your input lets us move beyond generalities and bring real-world examples to the table. It points to where targeted improvements could help companies bring safe, competitive products to market and strengthen Canada’s global standing in food innovation. 

Thanks to everyone who contributed. You’re helping us drive more focused conversations with Health Canada and push for the changes that matter most to food innovators. 

This pulse poll is one example of how CFIN helps organizations engage the food sector, gather insights, and explore strategic initiatives. Visit our Partnership Opportunities page to learn more about how we can support your work. 

If you’re developing a new product, technology, or strategy and need timely expert input from across the sector, CFIN can help. We offer custom surveys and pulse checks through YODL—shoot us a message to learn more. 

Comments

Martin Kouprie
06-26-2025 11:10

Great to see CFIN listening to real feedback from the food innovator community. The current rules clearly aren’t keeping up with how fast things are changing, and that’s a bit of a trip hazard. Glad this info is being shared with Health Canada — as someone said, “time matters” - so hopefully it’ll lead to quicker approval processes.

Related Content