. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/CAN/162
14 March 2003
(03-1503)
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):  Anchovy sauce (ICS: 67.220.10)
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 Tragacanth Gum in Anchovy Sauce (English and
French, page 678)
6. Description of content:  Provision currently exists in the Food and Drug Regulations for
the use of tragacanth gum as a stabilizing agent in a variety of foods.  Health Canada has
received a submission to permit the use of tragacanth gum as a stabilizing agent in anchovysauce at a maximum level of use of 0.75 per cent .  Evaluation of available data supports the
effectiveness and safety of this new use for tragacanth gum.
Therefore, it is the intention of Health Canada to recommend that the Food and Drug
Regulations  be amended to permit the optional use of tragacanth gum as a stabilizing agent
in the manufacture of anchovy sauce at a maximum level of use of 0.75 per cent.
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 tragacanth gum 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/162
Page 2
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Canada Gazette,
Part I, 8 March 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/2003/20030308/pdf/g1-13710.pdf