proposed amendment to the food and drug regulations notice of intent project no. 1652 schedule f the purpose of this notice of intent noi is to provide an opportunity for comment on the proposal to amend the current listing for l-asparaginase also known as asparaginase in part i of schedule f to the food and drug regulations to maintain prescription status for injectable dosage forms while providing an exemption from prescription status for other dosage forms. l-asparaginase is an enzyme that breaks down the amino acid asparagine in the body and is used as an injectable drug to treat some forms of cancer. l-asparaginase is not given orally to treat cancer because it is broken down in the stomach and therefore not absorbed by the body. available information indicates that l-asparaginase is used therapeutically as an injectable drug but not in any other dosage forms. therefore prescription status is required only for the injectable dosage form. the enzyme asparaginase can also act on food to reduce the amount of the amino acid asparagine. adding asparaginase to food to reduce the amount of asparagine can reduce the risk of formation of the chemical acrylamide which occurs during processing. any residual asparaginase in the food would be broken down in the stomach and consequently would not be absorbed by the body. this proposed amendment to the listing of l-asparaginase in schedule f would remove prescription restrictions from asparaginase when used orally. this would then allow asparaginase to be proposed for use as a food additive under the food and drug regulations for the reduction of acrylamide in prepared and packaged foods. schedule f is a list of medicinal ingredients the sale of which is controlled under sections c.01.041 to c.01.049 of the food and drug regulations. part i of schedule f lists ingredients that require a prescription for human use and for veterinary use. part ii of schedule f lists ingredients that require a prescription for human use but do not require a prescription for veterinary use if so labelled or if in a form unsuitable for human use.