G/SPS/N/CAN/1313  
 
1 July 2020  
(20-4557) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English/French  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
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):  Polysorbate 80 (ICS Codes: 67.200.20, 67.060)  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or count ries:  
5. Title of the notified document:  Notice of Modification to the List of Permitted 
Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or Thickening Agents  to Enable the Use of Polysorbate 80 
as an Emulsifying Agent in Wheat -Based Ready -to-Eat Cereals - Reference Number: 
NOM/ADM -0148. Language(s):  English and French . Number of pages:  3 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/SPS/CAN/20_3874_00_f.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/SPS/CAN/20_3874_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:  Health Canada's Food Directorate completed a premarket safety 
assessment of a food additive submission seeking approval for the use of polysorbate 80 
as an emulsifying agent in wheat -based ready -to-eat cereals.  
Polysorbate 80 is already permitted for use in Canada as an emulsifier in a number of 
foods, including rice -based ready -to-eat cereals.  
The results of the premarket assessment support the safety of p olysorbate 80 for its 
requested use. Consequently, Health Canada has enabled the use of polysorbate 80 
described in the information document by modifying the List of Permitted Emulsifying, 
Gelling, Stabilizing or Thickening Agents , effective 15 June 2020.  
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 o f this food 
additive.  
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.   G/SPS/N/CAN/1313  
 
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  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, chapte r 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' Web site, posted 
15 June 2020 (available in English and French):  
https://www.canada.ca/en/health -canada/services/food -nutrition/public -involvement -
partnerships.html  (English)  
https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante -canada/services/aliments -nutrition/participation -public -
partenariats.html  (French)   
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 15 June 2020  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) :  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : 15 June 2020  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 28 August 2020  
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:   G/SPS/N/CAN/1313  
 
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  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 Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or 
Thickening Agents to Enable the Use of Polysorbate 80 as an Emulsifying Agent in Wheat -
Based Ready -to-Eat Cereals  - Reference Number: NOM/ADM -0148" is available through 
the following weblink:  
https://www.canada.ca/en/health -canada/services/food -nutrition/pu blic-involvement -
partnerships/modification -permitted -emulsifying -gelling -stabilizing -thickening -
polysorbate -80-cereals.html  (English)  
https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante -canada/services/aliments -nutrition/participation -public -
partenariats/modification -autorises -emulsifiants -gelifiants -stabilisants -epaississants -
polysorbate -80-cereales.html  (French)  
Canada's Notification Authority and Enquiry Point  
Technical Barriers and Regulations Division  
Global Affairs Canada  
111 Sussex Drive  
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0G2  
Tel: +(343) 203 4273  
Fax: +(613) 9 43 0346  
E-mail: enquirypoint@international.gc.ca