interim marketing authorization regarding formulated liquid diets for special dietary use available in english and french pages 2358-2359 . the food and drug regulations set out nutritional requirements for formulated liquid diets. these requirements include minimum levels for 18 vitamins and mineral nutrients and in the case of vitamins a and d maximum levels. health canada has received a submission to exempt formulated liquid diets formulated specifically for patients with renal failure from the application of the minimum requirements of vitamins a and d and the mineral nutrients phosphorus and magnesium. the dietary management of vitamins a and d and the mineral nutrients phosphorus and magnesium must be individualized for patients with renal failure based on the specific condition of the patient. optimal intake levels of these vitamins and mineral nutrients will vary depending on the age and body weight of the patient and the severity of the renal failure. health canada has completed a safety assessment of the proposal to exempt formulated liquid diets for patients with renal failure from the application of the current minimum requirements for the nutrients named above. evaluation of the available data supports the safety of the exemption of formulated liquid diets for patients with renal failure from the minimum levels for vitamins a and d and for the mineral nutrients phosphorus and magnesium. health canada therefore intends to recommend that section b.24.102 of the food and drug regulations be amended to exempt liquid diets formulated specifically for patients with renal failure from the application of the minimum requirements of vitamins a and d and of the mineral nutrients phosphorus and magnesium to meet the specific dietary needs of these patients. as a means to improve the responsiveness of the regulatory system an interim marketing authorization ima is being issued to permit the immediate sale of liquid diets formulated specifically for patients with renal failure and exempted from the application of the minimum requirements of vitamins and mineral nutrients as indicated above while the regulatory process is undertaken to formally amend the regulations. a revision to this notification will be published at the start of the amendment process and members will be given the opportunity at that time to submit comments on this proposed measure