1.

Notifying Member: Canada

If applicable, name of local government involved:  

2.

Agency responsible: Health Canada

3.

Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where applicable): Sucralose (ICS Codes: 67.220, 67.230)

4.

Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:

[X]    All trading partners  

[ ]      Specific regions or countries:  

5.

Title of the notified document: Notice of Modification to the List of Permitted Sweeteners to Extend the Use of the Sweetener Sucralose to Nutritional Supplement Bars and to Protein Isolate and Uncooked Cornstarch-Based Snack Bars  Language(s): English and French  Number of pages: 3 and 3

http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2015/SPS/CAN/15_3605_00_e.pdf

http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2015/SPS/CAN/15_3605_00_f.pdf

6.

Description of content: Health Canada's Food Directorate completed a detailed safety assessment of sucralose as a sweetener in snack bars composed primarily of protein isolate and uncooked cornstarch, and a separate submission seeking approval for its use in nutritional supplement bars.

Sucralose is already permitted for use in Canada as a sweetener in a variety of foods.

As no safety concerns were raised through Health Canada's assessment the Department has enabled the food additive use of sucralose described in the information document below by updating the List of Permitted Sweeteners (http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/addit/list/9-sweetener-edulcorant-eng.php), effective 3 September 2015. The purpose of this communication is to publically announce the Department's decision in this regard and to provide the appropriate contact information for any inquiries or for those wishing to submit any new scientific information relevant to the safety of this food additive.

Health Canada's Food Directorate is committed to reviewing any new scientific information on the safety in use of any food additive, including sucralose. Anyone wishing to submit new scientific information on the use of this additive or to submit any inquiries may do so in writing, by regular mail or electronically.

7.

Objective and rationale: [X] food safety, [ ] animal health, [ ] plant protection, [ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from other damage from pests.  

8.

Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:

[ ]        Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or serial number of Codex standard or related text)  

[ ]        World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic Animal Health Code, chapter number)  

[ ]        International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)  

[X]      None

Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard? 

[ ] Yes   [ ] No

If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the international standard:  

9.

Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available: Health Canada's Food and Nutrition - "Public Involvement and Partnerships" Website, posted 3 September 2015 (available in English and French):

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/consult/index-eng.php (English)

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/consult/index-fra.php (French)

10.

Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy): The proposed food additive use will be legally enabled once it is published in Health Canada's List of Permitted Sweeteners (http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/addit/list/9-sweetener-edulcorant-eng.php).

Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy): 3 September 2015

11.

Proposed date of entry into force: [ ] Six months from date of publication, and/or (dd/mm/yy): The food additive use noted in this document comes into force on the day on which the modifications are made to the List of Permitted Sweeteners (http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/addit/list/9-sweetener-edulcorant-eng.php).

[ ]      Trade facilitating measure  

12.

Final date for comments: [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification and/or (dd/mm/yy): 17 November 2015

Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [ ] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e?mail address (if available) of other body:  

13.

Text(s) available from: [ ] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e?mail address (if available) of other body:

The "Notice of Modification to the List of Permitted Sweeteners to Extend the Use of the Sweetener Sucralose to Nutritional Supplement Bars and to Protein Isolate and Uncooked Cornstarch-Based Snack Bars" is available through the following weblink:

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/consult/nom-adm-0058/index-eng.php (English)

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/consult/nom-adm-0058/index-fra.php (French)