. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/CAN/59
29 July 1999
(99-3202)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  CANADA
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible:  Canadian Food Inspection Agency
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where
applicable):  The following products of Belgium are now  deemed to be safe for consumption
and can be imported into Canada:  (1) Chocolates such as chocolate pralines or truffles; solid
or filled chocolate bars, such as chocolate with  hazelnut cream filling; bulk solid chocolate (all
of these include white, milk or dark chocolate)  and no other prohibited ingredient or product;
(2) products that contain chocolate (white, milk  or dark) and no other prohibited ingredient or
products;  (3) products that contain lactose, ge latin, skim milk powder, casein, or whey and no
other prohibited ingredient or product; (4) milk proteins and no other prohibited ingredient or
product; and (5) dairy products and products that contain milk ingredients (such as butter,
cheese, puddings and ice cream) and no ot her prohibited ingredient or product.
Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:
Belgium
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document: Food Safety Alert of 21 July 1999:
"Dairy Products Added to List of Belgian Products Considered Safe" (2 pages);  and, Notice
to Importers/Distributors/Retailers/Restaurateu rs and Food Service Operators of 21 July 1999:
"Dairy Products Added to the List of Belg ian Products No Longer Suspect" (2 pages)
5. Description of content:  On 3 June 1999 the Canadian Food Inspection Agency imposed a
temporary prohibition on the importation of po rk, pork products, poultry and poultry products,
products which may contain eggs and animal feed, originating from Belgium.  On
5 June 1999, this provisional ban was extended to beef and beef products, and dairy products
processed or packaged in Belgium, in respons e to reports of contamination with dioxins.
Subsequently, decisions were taken on 2 July 1999, 12 July 1999, 14 July 1999, 15 July 1999and 20 July 1999, culminating in the lifting of the temporary prohibition on the importation of
the Belgian products noted in Section 3 above.
6. 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           
7. Nature of the urgent problem(s):  Emergency measure to protect the health of consumers
8. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [  X ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give its appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:           G/SPS/N/CAN/59
Page 2
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available: Food Safety Alert of
21 July 1999: "Dairy Products Added to List of  Belgian Products Considered Safe" (English
and French); and, Notice to Importers/Distribut ors/Retailers/Restaurateurs and Food Service
Operators of 21 July 1999: "Dairy  Products Added to the List of Belgian Products No Longer
Suspect" (English and French)
10. Date of entry into force/period of application (as applicable): Lifting of the ban on the
importation of products listed in Section 3 abov e, where not already in effect, takes effect
immediately.
11. Texts available from/and agency or authority designated to handle comments:
[    ] National notification authority, [  X ] National enquiry point or address, fax
number and E-mail address (if available) of other body: