. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/CAN/160
6 February 2003
(03-0791)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English/
French
NOTIFICATION
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   CANADA
If applicable, name of local government involved:
2. Agency responsible:  Health Canada
3.Products covered (provide tariff item num ber(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where
applicable):  Whey cheese (Ricotta cheese) (ICS:  67.100.30)
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  Not
stated
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:   Interim Marketing
Authorization regarding the use of Sodium  Hydroxide in Whey Cheese (English and
French;  page 201)
6. Description of content:  Provision currently exists in the Food  and Drug Regulations for
the use of sodium hydroxide as a pH adjusting agent in a variety of foods, but not in whey
cheese (Ricotta  cheese).  Health Canada has received a submission to permit the use ofsodium hydroxide as a pH-adjusting agent in whey cheese at levels consistent with good
manufacturing practice.  Evaluation of available data supports the effectiveness and safety
of this new use for sodium hydroxide.  Therefore, it is the intention of Health Canada to
recommend that the Food and Drug Regulations  be amended to permit the optional use of
sodium hydroxide as a pH-adjusting agent in  the manufacture of whey cheese at levels
consistent with good manufacturing practice.
As a means to improve the responsiveness of the regulatory system, an Interim Marketing
Authorization (IMA) is being issued to permit the immediate use of sodium hydroxide 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 thisproposed measure.
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. International standard, gu ideline or recommendation:
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission, [   ] Office International des Epizooties,
[   ] International Plant Prot ection Convention, [ X ] None
If an international standard , guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:G/SPS/N/CAN/160
Page 2
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Canada Gazette,
Part I, 1 February 2003 (English and French)
10. Proposed date of adoption:  Immediate for this IMA.  For the final regulation, will be stated
in subsequent Revision or A ddendum to this notification.
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  Immediate for this IMA.  For the final regulation, will
be stated in subsequent Revision or Addendum to this notification.
12. Final date for comments:  This document is not for comment at this time.  A comment
period will be provided in a Revision of this notification.
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [   ] National notification
authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (ifavailable) of other body:
13. Texts available from:  [   ] National notification authority,  [ X ]  National enquiry point,
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:
The electronic version of the regulatory text can be downloaded at:
http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partI/2003/20030201/pdf/g1-13705.pdf