. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/CAN/212 
6 August 2004 
 (04-3361) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd 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 numbe r(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where 
applicable):  Potassium aluminum sulphate (ICS: 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:   Interim Marketing 
Authorization regarding the use of potassium aluminum sulphate as a firming agent in roe 
of sea urchins (available in English and French;  page 2104). 
6. Description of content:  Provision currently exists in the Food and Drug Regulations  for 
the use of potassium aluminum sulphate as a firming agent, carrier, pH-adjusting agent, acid reacting material or water correcting agent in  a wide variety of food products.  Health 
Canada has received a submission to permit the use of potassium aluminum sulphate as a 
firming agent in roe of sea urchins at a maximum level of use of 350 parts per million (p.p.m.) calculated as aluminum.  Evaluati on of available data supports the safety and 
effectiveness of this new use of potassium aluminum sulphate.  
Therefore, it is the intention of Health Canada to recommend that the Food and Drug 
Regulations  be amended to permit the optional use of potassium aluminum sulphate as a 
firming agent in roe of sea urchins at levels  up to 350 parts per million (p.p.m.) calculated 
as aluminum.  
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 potassium aluminum sulphate, as indicated above, while the regulat ory process is undertaken to formally amend 
the Regulations.  A revision to this notifi cation will be published at the start of the 
amendment process and Members will be given the opportunity at that time to submit comments on this proposed 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 G/SPS/N/CAN/212 
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, 31 July 2004 (available in 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 Re vision of this notification. 
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [   ] National notification 
authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, or addr ess, fax number and E-mail address (if 
available) 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 regulat ory text can be downloaded at: 
http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partI/2004/20040731/pdf/g1-13831.pdf