Notice of Modification to Add Maximum Levels 
for Inorganic Arsenic in Polished (White) and 
Husked (Brown) Rice to Part 2 of the List of 
Contaminants and Other Adulterating Substances  
in Foods  
 
Notice of Modification  – List of Contaminants and Other 
Adulterating Substances in Foods  
 
Reference Number: NOM/ADM C -2020 -1 
 
June 5 , 2020 
 
  
Notice of Modification to add maximum levels for inorganic arsenic in polished (white) and husked (brown) rice to  
Part 2 of the List of Contaminants and Other Adulterating Substances in Foods | 2 
 Summary  
Food contaminants and other adulterating substances are chemicals that may be present in 
foods at levels that could impact the overall safety and/or quality of foods. Establishing 
maximum levels (MLs) is a form of risk management that may be employed to re duce exposure 
to a particular chemical contaminant in food sold in Canada. Canadian prohibitions and MLs for 
chemical contaminants in food are set out in Part 1 and Part  2, respectively, of the List of 
Contaminants and Other Adulterating Substances in Foods , which is incorporated by reference 
into section B.15.001 of Division 15 of the Food and Drug Regulations  (the Regulations) . 
Maximum levels are also set out in the List of Maximum Levels for Various Chemical 
Contaminants in Foods , which is maintained on Health Canada’s website. All prohibitions and 
MLs for contaminants in food are established by Health Canada’s Food Directorate and are 
enforceable by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.  
 
On June 14, 2019, Health Canada published a Proposal to Add Maximum Levels for Inorganic 
Arsenic in Polished (White) and Husked (Brown) Rice to the List of Contaminants and Other 
Adulterating Substances in Foods  [NOP/ADP C -2019 -2]. The proposal was open for public 
comment for 75 days and closed on August 27, 2019. Responses to submitted comments are 
summarized in the “Notification – Summary of Comments” section, below.  
 
As no new scientific information was received that would alter the approach described in the 
Notice of Proposal, Health Canada has added MLs of 0.2  ppm and 0.35  ppm for inorganic 
arseni c in polished (white) and husked (brown) rice, respectively, to Part 2 of the List of 
Contaminants and Other Adulterating Substances in Foods, as shown in the table below. These 
MLs also apply to white and brown rice when used as ingredients in other foods . 
 
Modification to Part 2 of the List of Contaminants and Other Adulterating Substances in Foods   
Item 
No. Column 1  
Substance  Column 2  
Food1 Column 3  
Maximum Level  
1.2 Arsenic, inorganic 
(sum of arsenite 
(As III) and arsenate 
(As V))  (1) Husked (brown) rice  (1) 0.35 p.p.m.  
(2) Polished (white) rice  (2) 0.2 p.p.m.  
1Maximum levels also apply to the food when it is used as an ingredient in other foods.  
  
Notice of Modification to add maximum levels for inorganic arsenic in polished (white) and husked (brown) rice to  
Part 2 of the List of Contaminants and Other Adulterating Substances in Foods | 3 
  
Corrective Modification  
 
Item No. 1 in Part 2 of the List of Contaminants and Other Adulterating Substances in Foods  has 
been renumbered to Item No. 1.1. In Column 1 for this item, the word ‘total’ was added after 
the word ‘arsenic’, such that the newly numbered Item No. 1.1, Column 1, now reads ‘Arsenic , 
total’. This corrective modification provides clarity as some MLs  in the List apply to total arsenic 
and the MLs for arsenic in rice (Item No. 1.2 in the List) apply to only the inorganic arsenic 
species.  
Rationale  
 
As described in the Notice of Proposal  (NOP/ADP C -2019 -2) arsenic is naturally occurring in the 
environment;  therefore, very low levels are present in various foods.  Long -term exposure to 
elevated levels of inorganic arsenic can contribute to a possible increased risk of certain cancers 
and other non -cancer effects. Health Canada is committed to ensuring that dietary exposure to 
food contaminants is as low as reasonably achievable. Rice represents a sign ificant source of 
exposure to inorganic arsenic in the diet of Canadians. Surveillance data available to Health 
Cana da indicate  that these MLs are readily achievable for rice and rice  products available for 
sale in Canada.  
 
The MLs of 0.2  ppm and 0.35  ppm for polished (white) and husked (brown) rice, respectively, 
will help minimize dietary exposure to inorganic arseni c by ensuring that levels in rice and the 
rice portion of rice -containing food products sold in Canada remain low.  
Other Relevant Information  
 
Other food safety organizations worldwide have implemented risk management measures for 
arsenic in rice. Health C anada’s MLs of 0.2 ppm and 0.35 ppm for inorganic arsenic in polished 
(white) and husked (brown) rice, respectively, align with the MLs established for inorganic 
arsenic (sum of As  III and As V) in both types of rice by the Codex Alimentarius Commission 
(STAN 193 -1995 ) and the European Com mission’s ML for arsenic in non -parboiled milled rice 
(polished or white rice) ( Commission Regulation 2015/1006 ).   
Notice of Modification to add maximum levels for inorganic arsenic in polished (white) and husked (brown) rice to  
Part 2 of the List of Contaminants and Other Adulterating Substances in Foods | 4 
  
Notification – Summary of Comments  and Health Canada’s 
Responses  
 
Health Canada received 9 comments in response to the Notice of Proposal 
(NOP/ADP  C-2019 -2), including comments from Ontario Dietitians in Public Health, Dietitians of 
Canada, the Canadian  Paediatric  Society and Food & Consumer Products of Canada. The 
balance of comments were received from the Canadian public. In general, a ll com ments 
received supported Health Canada’s proposal to establish MLs for inorganic arsenic in polished 
(white) and husked (brown) rice.  
 
Some of the comments from the public asked for additional information relating to the 
presence of inorganic arsenic in r ice and rice -containing foods sold in Canada, if Canadians 
should avoid these foods, and how levels of arsenic in these food products can be reduced.  
 
With respect to the presence of inorganic arsenic in rice, s urveillance data available to Health 
Canada show that rice and rice -containing products sold in Canada contain low concentrations 
of inorganic arsenic that are below the MLs. Canadians do not need to avoid rice and rice -
containing foods  and are encouraged to consume a variety of whole grain foods , which could 
include brown rice,  according to the recommendations from Canada’s Food Guide . In terms of 
how levels of arsenic can be reduced, the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Food  has 
developed the Code of Practice for the Prevention and Reduction of Arsenic Contamination in 
Rice ( CXC 77 -2017 ), which includes information on arsenic reduction for both rice grower s and 
consumers.  
 
Food & Consumer Products of Canada asked for clarity on the arsenic species and the rice 
products to which these MLs would apply, and the analytical method for inorganic arsenic used 
by Health Canada.  
 
The Department’s MLs are based on t he concentration of inorganic arsenic species (sum of 
arsenite, As III, and arsenate, As V) as they are recognized as the species of greatest 
toxicological concern to human health. The MLs apply to all types (e.g. parboiled, jasmine, long 
grain) of polishe d (white) and husked (brown) rice sold in Canada. The MLs for rice also apply to 
the rice portion of rice -containing products such as white or brown rice -based pasta, rice cakes, 
and flavoured rice side dishes. Questions related to official methods to test  for inorganic arsenic 
for compliance purposes should be directed to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency , which is 
responsible for compliance monitoring and enforcement of MLs established by Health Canada.  
  
Notice of Modification to add maximum levels for inorganic arsenic in polished (white) and husked (brown) rice to  
Part 2 of the List of Contaminants and Other Adulterating Substances in Foods | 5 
 Ontario Dietitians in Public Health, Dietitians of Canada, and the Canadian Paediatric Society 
noted  that Health Canada has yet to update its ML for arsenic in apple juice.  
 
Health Canada put forward a proposal to lower the ML for arsenic in apple juice in 2017, 
(NOP/AVP -C-2017 -1). As described in the Notice of Modification ( NOM/ADM -C-2017 -1), the 
Department felt it needed to consider comments received during the consultation period 
before finalizing the ML  for arsenic in apple juice . Health Canada is currently working on a 
proposal to update the existing MLs for arsenic in all types of fruit juice and fruit nectar.  
 
Comments from the public as well as those from the Ontario Dieti tians in Public Health, 
Dieti tians of Canada and the Canadian Paediatric Society indicated support for additional risk 
management measures for arsenic in rice -containing products intended for infants and young 
children.   
Additional Information Request – Rice-Based Foods Intended for 
Infants and Young Children  
 
As described in the Notice of Proposal ( NOP/ADP C -2019 -2), Health Canada is also consi dering 
additional, more protective, risk management measures for rice -containing foods intended 
specifically for infants and young children. There is evidence that exposure to high levels of 
inorganic arsenic during critical windows of early development ma y pose  a risk for infants and 
young children.  
 
As part of the Notice of Proposal Health Canada invited interested stakeholders from the food 
industry and public to submit data or information on arsenic levels, reduction strategies, or 
other relevant inform ation pertinent to arsenic in rice -based foods for infants and young 
children that would inform possible future risk management measures. In response, a s noted 
above, Health Canada received comments supporting additional risk management for rice -
based foo ds for infants and young children, however, no new scientific information was 
submitted.  
 
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is completing a targeted survey for rice -containing foods 
intended for infants and young children. Health Canada will consider th ese survey results and 
any other pertinent information to determine whether additional risk management measures 
for rice -containing products intended for infants and young children are needed . Maximum 
levels for contaminants in food established by Health C anada's Food Directorate are based on 
scientific evidence and in consultation with stakeholders.  If it is determined that additional MLs 
for other rice -based  foods are warranted, Health Canada will announce its intention to establish 
these MLs via a Notice  of Proposal published on Health Canada’s website .  
Notice of Modification to add maximum levels for inorganic arsenic in polished (white) and husked (brown) rice to  
Part 2 of the List of Contaminants and Other Adulterating Substances in Foods | 6 
 Implementation and Enforcement  
 
The above modification came  into force on June 5,2020 , the day it is published in Part 2 of the 
List of Contaminants and Other Adulterating Substance s in Foods .  
 
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is responsible for the enforcement of the food -related 
aspects of the Food and Drugs Act  and its associated regulations.  
Contact Information  
 
Health Canada's Food Directorate is committed to reviewing any n ew scientific information on 
the chemical safety of foods. Anyone wishing to submit new scientific information relating to 
inorganic arsenic in rice may do so in writing, by postal mail or email . If you wish to email  the 
Food Directorate, please use the words “ Arsenic (NOM C -2020 -1)” in the subject line.  
 
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