The body of jurisprudence established in Canada with respect to the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations is limited. Since 1987, the compositional and identity standards for food products in the Food and Drug Regulations have been enforceable only when the standardized product crosses an interprovincial or international border. The approach taken in Canada by federal authorities is to encourage voluntary compliance with all food and beverage product pre-market notification, licensing labelling and advertising regulation and guidelines. Compliance is monitored by periodic field inspection and related product analysis. Enforcement can be achieved through product recalls and seizures and in rare cases, prosecution under the Food and Drugs Act.
Maximum fine is five thousand dollars per offence.
FDA reports a high level of voluntary compliance, to be reassessed through a formal survey in 1997. European Union A body of jurisprudence in many areas is evolving as a result of decisions made by the European Court of Justice. The court was created under the Treaty of Rome to ensure the correct interpretation and application of the provisions of Community law. A number of significant precedent-setting decisions have been made with respect to food composition and food labelling involving the denial of market access of a product from one member state to another. Such legislation may or may not be implemented in all of the 15 member states.