. /. WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/N/CAN/202 
19 May 2004 
 (04-2201) 
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:   Department of Health 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item numbe r(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where 
applicable):  Wine (ICS: 67.160.10, 67.220.20) 
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:   Proposed Amendment to 
the Food and Drug Regulations (1014 - Wine St andard) (available in English and French; 
pages 1472 - 1478). 
6. Description of content:  Health Canada has received a submission to request the use of 
additional food ingredients and food additives during wine production to enable Canadian 
wine makers to follow wine-making practices  recognized internationally and allowed in 
other countries.  In addition, a request was made  to modify the definition of wine to reflect 
modern practices in wine production and to ma intain consistency with the definition of 
wine in international agreements signed by Canada.  The submission also requested an 
increase in the permitted level of volatile acidity  in wine from the current value of 0.13 per 
cent to 0.21 per cent weight per volume. 
 
The additional use of these food ingredients a nd food additives and the change in volatile 
acidity were evaluated from the standpoint of  safety and efficacy. Available data support 
the safety and effectiveness of the use of these substances in the production of wine and the 
increase in permitted volatile acidity.    
Therefore, Health Canada proposes that amendments be made to the Food and Drug 
Regulations  to permit the use of the substances in the production of wine, at the permitted 
levels of use indicated, and to increase the maximum level of volatile acidity in wine. 
Health Canada also proposes to amend the defin ition of wine to better reflect the definition 
agreed upon at the international level, namely th at wine shall be an al coholic beverage that 
contains not less than 7 per cent and not  more than 24 per cent alcohol by volume, 
produced by the complete or partial fermenta tion of fresh grapes, grape must or products 
derived solely from fresh grapes, or any combination of them. 
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/202 
Page 2  
 
 8. International standard, guideline or recommendation:  
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission, [   ] World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE), [   ] International Plant Protection Convention, [ X ] None  
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate 
reference and briefly identify deviations:  
9. Relevant documents and language(s ) in which these are available:  Canada Gazette, 
Part I, 8 May 2004 (available  in English and French). 
10. Proposed date of adoption:   Normally within 5 to 8 mont hs of publication in the Canada 
Gazette, Part I. 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:   On the date the measure is adopted. 
12. Final date for comments:  22 July 2004 
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:    
13. Texts available from:  [   ] National notificati on authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, 
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:  
The electronic version of the regulat ory text can be downloaded at:  
http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partI/2004/20040508/pdf/g1-13819.pdf